Advice I
learned the hard way, NEVER pick up unknown toner or ink jet
cartridges that have been setting in the sun.
Watch out for expired HP carts, I picked up 3 unopened color
carts from goodwill a few years ago, 2 years after the
expiration date I had the opportunity to try them out. The color
carts all printed in a un-uniform shade of brown/grey.
Even at 3$ a unit, it was still an ouch.
Not really as bad as a leaking cartridge that you don't notice until its
dripping off your elbow. Only took 2 weeks to wear off.
Something must have happened to those cartridges, because I know I have
used some that were older than that without a hitch, plus a guy I know at
the swapmeets sells about 100+ date expired units per week, and nobody
seems to be complaining. Maybe they got too hot, or froze or something?
Normal shelf life is what, 3 to 5 years?