Buying online is always risky, but I genuinely lucked out with my CS-5000. Though it was slightly dusty, the unit was perfectly packed, with the platter packed separately, and at the bottom of the carton. The two cartrdiges (mounted on two separate headshells) were also individually packaged, and the owner went to great lengths even to pack the paper overhang guage. Even the dust cover has only minor scratches, and looks fairly new.

While the CS-5000 came with a perfectly operating Shure V/15 Type V, I greatly prefer the sound of my Stanton Collector's Series CS-100 instead. Still, if the Stanton should get damaged, or if I somehow manage to lose or misplace the spare unit and other Stanton cartridges I have, I'll always have the Type V as a backup! Even the belt on the turntable was brand new.

So, again, the $299 I paid (plus $50 for shipping) was a terrific bargain. Though there are certainly better turntables out there, I don't think any new turntable for only $300 to $350 comes even remotely close to the performance of the CS-5000.