How do you tell your Cartridge needs replacing?

Happily Audio Technica has a program to check and clean for $40. or sell me a new replacement cartridge for less than half price

I sent my AT33PTG/II in, expect to hear from them soon.

got this response when I asked them

"Hello Elliot,

You can return it for inspection, cleaning, and testing. The cost is $40.00 plus shipping. If it is worn and needs replaced, we do offer a trade in program for moving coil cartridges. You can trade in your cartridge for a new cartridge at a discounted replacement cost. Your cartridge will be destroyed. Here is the replacement cost for a new AT33PTG/2. The cost doesn’t include the return Fed Ex shipping.

AT33PTG/2                $262.43

You will find our ATUS Service Policy, complete repair return instructions and a downloadable form to be enclosed with the repair return at: https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/support/repair-service/ .  Please provide detailed information on the problem.  We do not require a return authorization number for repair returns.  We require dated proof of purchase with the repair returns to validate all warranty claims.  Please also provide a United States, United Parcel Service (UPS) deliverable address to return the product to once repaired.

Sincerely,

Jim

 
Jim Schotts
Service Manager

If maker not around or has no service offer, you can send it to a re-builder you trust, like Steve and Ray Leung of VAS

Time flys by, I will keep a log now near my TT.

check, but the AT policy probably applies to their more expensive models also, which means trade-in saves even more in the future.