Can Ink Jet Cartiridges Be Used Past Their Expiry Date

nightswimmer

I have a few ink cartridges in my cupboard left over from an old printer. I was thinking of selling them, but they have all passed their use-by date by a year or two.

Does anyone know if they will still be ok to use or not? (They are original cartridges, still sealed, etc.)

stamford

nightswimmer wrote: »

I have a few ink cartridges in my cupboard left over from an old printer. I was thinking of selling them, but they have all passed their use-by date by a year or two.

Does anyone know if they will still be ok to use or not? (They are original cartridges, still sealed, etc.)

It's a big step I know but why don't you take a deep breath and try sticking one in your printer, if you survive make sure you tell us what happens

Marty_J

Just make sure you don't eat them after the expiry date.

Belnahua

If they're date sensitive, and the printer refuses to print, shove the computer's clock back to before the expiry date, then print!

Part of the printer drivers sends the current time and date to the printer, and if it's later than the chip's date in the printer, it sits there beeping old cartridges! But change the date on the computer fools it.

Just remember to put the date back straight after printing!

zerodashzero

I have oodles of old ink cartridges that are out of date & work perfectly well. The only problem is that sometimes the ink smells. (I think that's why they have a use by date) The smell can be kinda fishy on the paper (so I certainly wouldn't use them for job applications, etc!), but it's fine for day to day printing.

charlie1977

Fishy smelling ink, I wondered what was up with mine!

As long as the seal is intact, you should have no problems, good look though!

missile

I think OP cannot use these in his new printer and wants to sell on eBay or similar?

They should be OK to use, but you must declare that they are past their sell by date and consequently you are unlikely to get much for them.

Fifer

charlie1977 wrote: »

As long as the seal is intact, you should have no problems

Perhaps the seal is attracted by the fishy smell?

rdp1980

I have sold old ink cartridges on eBay before, so long as you declare the expiry dates and say they are priced low because of this, you should be OK.

Assuming it is an original Epson/HP etc they will probaby sell. If they're compatibles they'll probably cost more to post individually than they are worth so sell them as a job lot.

Always worth researching the model number of the cartridge first, a quick Google search may warn you if the printer rejects expired cartridges. Again, there are ways round this, but it is up to the buyer to do his/her research and this will reduce their value.

nightswimmer

Thanks for all the advice (and the laughs ).

Yep, my printer went kaput a couple years ago, so testing them isn't an option.

I will try selling them, but give details of the use-by date, etc. in the listings as suggested. I just didn't want to sell anything that wouldn't work, or worse, could cause damage.

Thanks again to everyone who responded. Much appreciated! :beer: