Printer Cartridge Expiry Dates

I was so glad Takealot had HP901 printer cartridges, I couldn't find them anywhere. I had to wait for them to be delivered, I think one had to come from the supplier. When they came, the black didn't work. In the meantime I found a supplier nearby, so I took the offending cartridge there. The guy says if it is past it's expiry date, it wont work. He showed me one that I bought, same date on the box as on the cartridge - Dec 2022. The one from Takealot - on the box, was a sticker saying the expiry date was Nov 2022, under the sticker, April 2019 was printed on the box, and the cartridge itself said 21 August 2021. The cartridge was in it's sealed packet, inside a sealed box. How does that work? And these things are flippen expensive for what life you get! Takealot, please take on your supplier?!