here are some tips to prevent some damage...

1) always make sure you always have a secure grip on the cartridge handle before moving it. if you are careless, and it slides off your finger, it can bounce on/across the vinyl. if the needle hits the record hard enough, it will chip the vinyl. if you're lucky, nothing will happen to either the needle or record... if you're not that lucky, then you will hear a shiney new pop everytime needle passes over damaged area... if you're really unlucky, the record will skip, and you will not be able to play that part or song. you might also bend the needle.

2) i always secure the tone arm when i'm not playing a record... for the same reason as the first one... if someone bumps the turntable or what ever, the arm is locked in place, and will not bounce on the record, or the platter.

3) keep your vinyl nice and clean. it will last longer, and sound better over a longer period of time. it will help your needles last longer too since there will be less crud getting baked on.

4) try to use the least amount of wieght you can get away with. this will save some wear and tear on your vinyl. of course you have to find your own happy medium here... you want to have enough weight to minimize skips will back cueing, but not so much that you see dust on the vinyl from the needle digging into it. check your carts recommended wieght setting, and start from the lightest setting possible, and just add some wieght little by little if records are skipping.

___________________