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Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Printing: Printers, Papers and Inks => Topic started by: jrp55262 on August 09, 2018, 05:07:31 pm

Title: HP Z-series: what does "expired" mean for printheads and inks?
Post by: jrp55262 on August 09, 2018, 05:07:31 pm
So in my ongoing battle to get HP to fix my Z3200 and their finding any way possible not to do so, one thing they said was "You have expired printheads.  That's why you're having your image quality problems".  Now I know with 99% certainty that this is not the case.  I pulled a diagnostic image after the problem print, and it came out nearly perfect, thus showing that all the heads are firing on just about all nozzles.

Now it turns out that I *do* have replacement printheads.  I laid in a supply when I bought the printer.  When I went through my supply, though, I found that half of my unopened printheads had also "expired".  So much for planning in advance and laying in a supply...

So my question is: what exactly does the "expiration date" mean on HP printheads?  Do they really only last for about two years unopened?  What happens to them after that?
Title: Re: HP Z-series: what does "expired" mean for printheads and inks?
Post by: jhein on August 09, 2018, 06:12:16 pm
Expired printheads is all I buy!  Usually on ebay.  I pay on average $20/printhead.  Never a problem.  Finally replaced my Gloss enhancer printhead that expired in 2009!!.

What kind of issues are you having?

Jim
Title: Re: HP Z-series: what does "expired" mean for printheads and inks?
Post by: jrp55262 on August 09, 2018, 06:35:39 pm
What kind of issues are you having?

Take a look at this thread: https://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=125863.0

Basically, I'm having banding and color loss issues that are reminiscent of the problems I had with my old Z3100 when the trailing cable was going bad.  HP is dragging its feet when it comes to hardware diagnosis, though, so getting them to actually come out and fix it under the Care Pack is like pulling teeth.  It's like they want to exhaust every single other possibility in the universe before admitting that there might be a hardware problem.  It doesn't help that the problem is intermittent, so when it goes into remission they can declare it "fixed" and pat themselves on the back...
Title: Re: HP Z-series: what does "expired" mean for printheads and inks?
Post by: Mark Lindquist on August 10, 2018, 05:21:29 pm
So in my ongoing battle to get HP to fix my Z3200 and their finding any way possible not to do so, one thing they said was "You have expired printheads.  That's why you're having your image quality problems".  Now I know with 99% certainty that this is not the case.  I pulled a diagnostic image after the problem print, and it came out nearly perfect, thus showing that all the heads are firing on just about all nozzles.

Now it turns out that I *do* have replacement printheads.  I laid in a supply when I bought the printer.  When I went through my supply, though, I found that half of my unopened printheads had also "expired".  So much for planning in advance and laying in a supply...

So my question is: what exactly does the "expiration date" mean on HP printheads?  Do they really only last for about two years unopened?  What happens to them after that?

From HP:

Here's the official answer:

"On the box is the sell by/ expiration date.  Somewhere in very small print
on the printhead is either the expire date or manufacture date.  If it's the
manufacture date then there is no other wording on it and the printhead is
good for two years after the manufacture date.  If it's the expire date it
usually starts with that "expire or install by XX/XX/XX.  If the customer
has installed expired ink it does not void warranty of the whole printer
just whatever components that comes in contact with the ink.  Which is ink
cart, ink tube system and prnitheads.  And also any image or color quality
issues are not guaranteed until fresh ink is installed.
"

             How's that for corporate BS?

"We spoke yesterday regarding ink cartridges for the
 Z3200ps. I was able to pose a question to a colleague that works on the
 supplies side of HP. My intent was to address the question of why there
 can be such variance in the dates published
 on ink cartridge boxes. I’ve highlighted his explanation below.
 The  warranty policy for ink supplies (and hence “dating” policy on the
retail boxes) can vary by product.  For the HP 70 ink cartridges, the
end of warranty date, and hence the warranty policy, is set to be 30 months from the date of
manufacture.  Nearly all supplies warranty and dating are based on when
the product was manufactured.  This is why there can be a varying date
on these products, and why the customer sees these dates
 be quite disparate.  Manufacturing is done in batches, at certain times
 of the month or quarter, and then they are dated 30 months out.  As
they move thru the supply chain and distribution channel, they can get
intermixed and this will result in this variance in dates seen by the customer. HP does not have a “standard” window of
guarantee (or warranty), but we do try to ensure there is at least 6-12
months of “usable life” remaining (most often way more than this), once a
customer purchases the supplies."

The  warranty policy for ink supplies (and hence “dating” policy on the
retail boxes) can vary by product.  For the HP 70 ink cartridges, the
end of warranty date, and hence the warranty policy, is set to be 30 months from the date of
manufacture.  Nearly all supplies warranty and dating are based on when
the product was manufactured.  This is why there can be a varying date
on these products, and why the customer sees these dates
 be quite disparate.  Manufacturing is done in batches, at certain times
 of the month or quarter, and then they are dated 30 months out.  As
they move thru the supply chain and distribution channel, they can get
intermixed and this will result in this variance in dates seen by the customer.
HP does not have a “standard” window of guarantee (or warranty),
but we do try to ensure there is at least 6-12 months of “usable life” remaining (most often way more than this), once a
customer purchases the supplies."

_____________________________________________________________________



Long and short of it is that no matter what the dates are, HP does not have to honor their Care Pack obligations if your print heads and Cartridges are expired.

("If the customer has installed expired ink it does not void warranty of the whole printer
just whatever components that comes in contact with the ink.  Which is ink
cart, ink tube system and prnitheads.  And also any image or color quality
issues are not guaranteed until fresh ink is installed.
")

Since I have several Z Series printers, I have one under 5 year Care Pack Warranty and I keep all my head and carts current.  I take the ones just replaced and put them in the next oldest printer not under warranty, etc.

At this stage of the game, I'm afraid you have to play the game their way without a lot of wiggle room since the product is a hair's breath away from EOL (End of Life).
They'll be sending out the new Z9's at some point.

You could just get new inks and heads and pull the old ones and save them carefully for when the printer acts up or is out of warranty. (Or sell on eBay).

But for now - you are stuck with their rules (which seem somewhat arbitrary).

Hope this helps.

Mark

Title: Re: HP Z-series: what does "expired" mean for printheads and inks?
Post by: DougDolde on August 12, 2018, 04:38:42 pm
I buy remanufactured carts for my Z5200 for $20-25 each. No issues.
Title: Re: HP Z-series: what does "expired" mean for printheads and inks?
Post by: John Nollendorfs on August 13, 2018, 12:21:32 pm
I buy remanufactured carts for my Z5200 for $20-25 each. No issues.

Ah, Doug, sucker for the cheap inks. I would rather buy expired HP inks over the 3rd party inks. You say "remanufactured", does this mean using HP, or third party inks? While in the short term (10-20 years) under normal display conditions, I think you may be alright, when considering longer term life expedency, your customers may be disappointed. Just something to consider.
Title: Re: HP Z-series: what does "expired" mean for printheads and inks?
Post by: Peter McLennan on August 13, 2018, 12:45:37 pm
I'll ask this question here, just like I did on a related Epson thread.

"How come inks can quickly expire in the cart, yet reportedly last for decades on the page?"
Title: Re: HP Z-series: what does "expired" mean for printheads and inks?
Post by: John Nollendorfs on August 13, 2018, 02:07:39 pm
I'll ask this question here, just like I did on a related Epson thread.

"How come inks can quickly expire in the cart, yet reportedly last for decades on the page?"
Pigmented inks are a "suspension". They are kept that way  by additives, and the acrylic encapsulation. However, left sitting unused, the pigments will settle and coagulate into larger particles. Two years from date of manufacure, is a typical experation date on most inks. However, many users on this forum have found no ill effects using expired ink. With the  price of HP print heads being as low as they are, it's not an expensive fix to replace a print head, incase expired ink does cause it to fail. After 11 years of moderate use, my Z3100 is only on it's 3rd set of print heads. Great testimony to it's design.



Title: Re: HP Z-series: what does "expired" mean for printheads and inks?
Post by: jrp55262 on August 20, 2018, 03:04:51 pm
At this stage of the game, I'm afraid you have to play the game their way without a lot of wiggle room since the product is a hair's breath away from EOL (End of Life).
They'll be sending out the new Z9's at some point.

Do you have any firm information on the Z3200 going EOL, or is this conjecture based on the fact that there's a new generation of printers coming out?  I'm torn as to whether I should renew my Care Pack or just go back to self-maintenance...
Title: Re: HP Z-series: what does "expired" mean for printheads and inks?
Post by: Mark Lindquist on August 20, 2018, 05:44:14 pm
Do you have any firm information on the Z3200 going EOL, or is this conjecture based on the fact that there's a new generation of printers coming out?  I'm torn as to whether I should renew my Care Pack or just go back to self-maintenance...

Nope - no hard evidence, however, the writing's on the wall.  If you want a care pack, there is no time like the present to get one.

It could be 5 years, it could be 5 months, but EOL will happen; my educated guess is sooner than later.

Mark