Purchasing from LP Gear

You'd better ask them how LP Gear can help you if you wish to send your ART-9 back to the manufacturer when the stylus is worn (after 2000 hrs). This is the most important, if they can send it back to AT and you will get new cart with special discount then it's a proper service. This is what some big manufacturers like AT can do (instead of retip).    

Again, it’s not a big deal to buy a cartridge, every dealer can sell a new cartridge if they got it in stock. The real problem is how this dealer can help his buyer when a cartridge stylys is worn out, if the dealer can ship it back to the manufacturer to get a new one (or next model) with special discount then it’s the real dealer. Manufacturer support their customers via their dealers, with MC cartridge you have no choice when it’s worn, for AT’s MicroLine stylus profile it’s about 2000 hrs and then your stylus tip is worn. Manufacturer will not accept a cartridge from you or from your grey market dealer, but they will accept a worn cart from their official distributor in your country amd their dealers. The benefit is about 40% discount for a new (next) cart if you send your first (worn) back.