When purchasing ink cartridges for printers on eBay or any other auction site you should always read the auction ad very carefully. Many ads do not state if the cartridges are refilled or not. If they do not, then contact the seller prior to purchase and find out. In my opinion you should buy new and from a store that way you can bring them back if there is a problem, but if you still wish to purchase them through an auction then be aware that there can be many problems with them. One problem is the ink nozzle may be scratched or worn and this will cause a problem with printing clearly and ink smudges. Another problem is that the ink is not filled correctly and one or more colors may run out very quickly. These cartridges may be sealed, but the problems come from the company that refills them. When buying cartridges that are not refurbished, then make sure from the seller that the expiration date is still good for at least a year. Another thing to look out for is that many cartridges have a sticker with a date over the original date that is printed on the box. I would be cautious of this, because 9 times out of 10 the date below the sticker has already expired. The reason for the expiration dates is not that the ink in these cartridges goes bad, but they can dry up. After reading all this and you still want to buy from an auction seller then make sure that the seller has very good feedback, and has been selling ink for awhile. I hope this guide is helpful to all current and future eBay Buyers !! GOOD LUCK !!!!