This isn't a new turntable--I've had it for a little over a year. I haven't used it in a few months, but I just tried to play a record, and the arm won't lower down far enough to touch the record. It seems to be a problem with the little plastic cradle near the base of the needle in the upper right-hand corner of the turntable, it seems to be permanently raised, as if it were going back to the cradle (it doesn't touch the bottom of the cradle either).

Audio Players & Recorders - Audio Technica