who knows ZYX retipping or refurbish ?

@andychris 

If you will search audiogon you will find my detailed explanation how do they work with broken cartridges if you purchased them from authorized dealer (it's easy to check by serial number). 

1) They can ONLY give you a NEW cartridge and you will pay at least 60% of 100% retail price. You can also upgrade to the next model. At least in the USA it workd like that and you can still contact Mehran at sorasound The cartridge must be an original, it means you can not send them back a ZYX cartridge if somebody else tried to fix it. 

2) ZYX cartridge body is sealed, the original cantilever is way different from any other cantilevers on the market, check this picture of my ex Airy3. If you want to experiment with your broken cartridge you can send it to some other re-tippers, but it depends what you're gonna do (just replace the diamond or replace the whole cantilever). 

3) If you want to replace the cantilever someone will have to crack the cartridge body. Then you will get a cartridge which is no longer ZYX cartridge. 

4) The process via Nakatsuka-San is the best if you're ok with the price, you will get a brand new cartridge with new serial number. But i think you can source brand new cartridge somewhere else for lower price (maybe used or demo). 

Yes, 60% or even more, but only if you send them back broken cartridge with valid serial number. I actually sent my broken Premium 4D, but then i gave up on ZYX. I believe each distributor can do more or less to help their customers. I'm pretty sure it's very difficult to sell such expensive cartridges.  

There is no repair of ZYX cartridges provided by the manufacturer (Nakatsuka-San in Japan) or any distributor !!

ONLY exchange, even if you want the same cartridge back to work it will be a different (brand new) cartridge with different serial number that you can get officially from the distributor. BUT only if your ex cartridge was purchased officially from the distributor. 

ZYX cartridges has SEALED body, the manufacturer will give you a new cartridge instead of cracking up the old one for any reason. They do not re-tip the cartridges, even if you want just a new tip, you will get brand new cartridge with discount instead. 

@andychris 

That's not correct, they can repair your original cartridge if it's no more available on the market, but the price will be the same as if you want a brand new cartridge from the new serie.

Never heard about it, did you repaired some of your ZYX via official distributors or someone told you? My statement is based on my personal experience with ZYX USA  

@andychris good to know, but you said the price was almost like the brand new model from the newer series, once i upgraded from Airy III to Premium 4D the difference was noticable. Which old model you decided to keep?  I believe the body is the same as the Airy and surely on the factory they could replace the body, but aftermarket retippers can't do that anyway. 

@nandric do you think nakastuka-san just sent him a brand new cartridge anyway?

If that was an old model like Yatra or Fuji then the generator must be different compared to the latest models. I think the better idea is to upgrade to the latest models if the price is the same or very close, but @andychris decided to keep his old model fixed somehow by Nakatsuka-San, because he's the only "official zyx". If the story is truth then i don't want to speculate on it. 

But we don't know who was the distributor, because you can not contact Nakatsuka-San directly, and which model it was. 

I will not return to the ZYX, this story has ended for me. I have much better cartridges for my needs. Also i don't like refurbished cartridges, i prefer the originals. No more ZYX, it is not my price category. I wish i could find used FR-7fz, Ikeda 9 or Miyajima Kansui, but it's just for curiosity. 

When my Premium 4D was damaged Mehran of SoraSound recommended SoundSmith as an option, but ONLY if the original ZYX exchange program is not affordable.  Anyway, i don't use ZYX cartridges anymore for practical reason.