# Can Packs of InkJet Ink Packs...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-packs-of-inkjet-ink-packs/455174>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 3, 2008, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-packs-of-inkjet-ink-packs/455174 "2008-07-03T11:33:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-packs-of-inkjet-ink-packs/455174/1 "2008-07-03T11:33:46Z")

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Can Packs of InkJet Ink Packs dry out, even when unopened? If a house is slightly too warm or too humid, can the inkjet dry out? I have 2 HP packs that I suspect did this, although the printer can still (electronically) recognize the inklevel. Thus, I have some doubt if this is the problem, or not.

FYI: The pack is from a multi-pack which was tossed, but an individual pack I have does not recommend “cool and dry” storage, or rec’d temp, & RH.

What’s the SD know about this? Any personal experiences to share?

- Jinx

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**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-packs-of-inkjet-ink-packs/455174/2 "2008-07-03T11:44:11Z")

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Unopened, they have a long shelf life, by my experience, at least at typical residential conditions. However, there are some printers that have reportedly been programmed to reject carts past a certain age. The manufacturer claims that this is to keep the quality high; most people think it is designed to screw the consumer and sell carts.

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2008, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-packs-of-inkjet-ink-packs/455174/3 "2008-08-01T11:21:07Z")

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Just wanted to state we solved this mystery with an inkjet pack. After removing the protective strip over the electronic contacts, it seems there was another strip blocking the ink form coming out. Must have been an error in the manufacturing process. I just removed the (expected) strip and popped the inkjet refill into the printer.

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**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2008, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-packs-of-inkjet-ink-packs/455174/4 "2008-08-01T13:10:34Z")

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[QUOTE=Jinx]  
Any personal experiences to share?  
[/QUOTE]

If there is a way to make you buy another cartridge, due to humidity, temperature, phonon flux, PMS or tiger alignment at the local zoo, it will be taken advantage of.