Thanks everyone for your input. It helped me decide to return the product and insist on a perfectly straight cantilever. FWIW, this particular cart was a replacement unit for one that was sent last week that had one channel defective. So, in less than five days, I have received two Cadenza cartridges from Ortofon that were less than ideal.
These Cadenza Blue cartridges retail for $1900. That's not chump change, not to me at least. When I received the first one, it came drop shipped from Ortofon USA and they required me to be on site to sign for it. However, when I returned the defective unit, Ortofon did not bother to notify me that they had shipped out a replacement, and further, they did not send the replacement requiring me to sign for it. So, a $1900 cartridge sat outside my door stoop for anyone to grab. That was a bit unsettling notwithstanding that I did/do appreciate their rapid turnaround of the replacement. Still, the replacement should have been sent following their normal sign-to-get-it process. I can only imagine if someone had grabbed that off my steps, and without knowing I call Ortofon several days later asking, "Where's the replacement cart?" and have them say, "Well, we already sent it." What a nightmare that would have been. But, there's more.
The original ordered cart came in a box that was sealed. Pretty much what I would have expected for a $1900 item. But the replacement did not come in a sealed box. When I spoke to the retailer about this, they indicated that some Cadenza boxes come sealed, some do not. Hmmm.
Ok, I am new to the $1250+ cartridge scene. Are my expectations too high? Do others here who have purchased carts at this price+ find that other manufacturers also have QC issues and/or inconsistent shipping and packaging policies?
These Cadenza Blue cartridges retail for $1900. That's not chump change, not to me at least. When I received the first one, it came drop shipped from Ortofon USA and they required me to be on site to sign for it. However, when I returned the defective unit, Ortofon did not bother to notify me that they had shipped out a replacement, and further, they did not send the replacement requiring me to sign for it. So, a $1900 cartridge sat outside my door stoop for anyone to grab. That was a bit unsettling notwithstanding that I did/do appreciate their rapid turnaround of the replacement. Still, the replacement should have been sent following their normal sign-to-get-it process. I can only imagine if someone had grabbed that off my steps, and without knowing I call Ortofon several days later asking, "Where's the replacement cart?" and have them say, "Well, we already sent it." What a nightmare that would have been. But, there's more.
The original ordered cart came in a box that was sealed. Pretty much what I would have expected for a $1900 item. But the replacement did not come in a sealed box. When I spoke to the retailer about this, they indicated that some Cadenza boxes come sealed, some do not. Hmmm.
Ok, I am new to the $1250+ cartridge scene. Are my expectations too high? Do others here who have purchased carts at this price+ find that other manufacturers also have QC issues and/or inconsistent shipping and packaging policies?