HP Toner Cartidges - Shelf Life or Expiration Date

HP Toner Cartidges - Shelf Life or Expiration Date

There is no expiration date for the use of HP toner cartridges...

The above statement comes DIRECTLY from HP's website.  I had searched forever to find the answer, and wanted to share it with others. 

I will not let me post the direct link to the info on HP's site here; hopefully you know what their site is, so you can start there.  Once at HP's website, search on the word "pageyield" (without the quotes).Then delete everything after the slash that follows "pageyield" in your url address bar, and hit return.  On the resulting page, click the link that says "Cartridge warranty".  It should take you to a page that ends with a docname equal to "c01848047"

I searched for the above, because I was reading an older HP printer manual, which used to state:

"For best results, always use a Toner Cartridge before the expiration date stamped on the Toner Cartridge's box" and
"The shelf life of a cartridge in an unopened package is approximately 2.5 years."

And then I found the newer toner packages don't say "expiration date", but have a date printed on the box.  I didn't know if was a "manufactured on" date, a "sell by" date, an "install by" date, or a "use by" date. So I started searching...and found the above link and the below information:

Date of Manufacture on Packaging
"The date of manufacture on the toner cartridge box is intended for HP internal processes and may be required to comply with regulatory standards in certain countries. The date of manufacture is not an expiration or “use before” date. There is no expiration date for the use of HP toner cartridges."

So, as long as the package is sealed, and it was properly stored, the toner cartridge will be good.  And even once installed, as long as you use the printer regularly, and don't live in a rain forest (or other high humidity locale), then an installed cartridge should work until it runs out of toner.

Lastly, if you use an older toner cartridge, and you have problems before running out of toner, remember that HP warranties the cartridge... and you can find what is covered at the same link I provided above.  It states:
"This HP product is warranted to be free from defects in materials and workmanship.
This warranty does not apply to products that (a) have been refilled, refurbished, remanufactured or tampered with in any way, (b) experience problems resulting from misuse, improper storage, or operation outside of the published environmental specifications for the printer product or (c) exhibit wear from ordinary use.
To obtain warranty service, please return the product to place of purchase (with a written description of the problem and print samples) or contact HP customer support. At HP's option, HP will either replace products that prove to be defective or refund your purchase price. "

So be a smart consumer and take advantage of the deals you find on OEM / Geniune HP Toner cartridges.