Gun Receipts: Scan, Keep faded originals, or toss?

[berettaprofessor]

I've always kept my receipts from gun purchases and noticed recently that many, particularly from register printers like at Cabelas, are fading over time. I can scan them and keep them electronically, but are these scans as good as the originals for proof that I purchased the gun? If so, the question becomes what to do with the old faded originals. Help me decide please.

 

[whichfinger]

Most receipts are printed on thermal paper and have a limited life span before the image fades into oblivion. Avoiding exposure to light helps some, but they'll still eventually go away. I always scan mine right away. Arguing that a copy is not valid is silly, since the original will be illegible long before the warranty expires. Unless its Harbor Freight stuff.

 

[Ramone]

I actually just take an picture with my cell phone (Android with 8 mp camera), which automagically uploads to my picasa page, where I can access it anywhere I have internet access, and if needed, print a copy with the upload date embedded.

I also snap images of all my ID, Credit Cards, etc, in case they are lost and I need a reference- since I travel a lot, trying to keep records with me would be a major undertaking.

From time to time, I go through and 'tag' them, which I can then search quickly for 'car', 'bike', 'boat' 'guns', etc.,

saves room in my strongbox.

 

[hmphargh]

Most receipts are printed on thermal paper and have a limited life span before the image fades into oblivion. Avoiding exposure to light helps some, but they'll still eventually go away. I always scan mine right away. Arguing that a copy is not valid is silly, since the original will be illegible long before the warranty expires. Unless its Harbor Freight stuff.

Keeping them cool and dry also helps. I find that a gun safe w/ desiccants is an excellent environment to keep the receipts readable for a long time. I'd still scan them though.

 

[tarosean]

Dont keep them... It dont matter if you paid MSRP or got a deal they are all worth about the same on the used market.

 

[CoRoMo]

Since the dealers are required by federal law to keep their records for decades, how many reasons are there to keep a receipt?

 

[rdhood]

I don't keep them. What purpose would it serve? I might keep a bill of sale to prove that I sold a particular gun, but nothing to show that I purchased it.

 

[fatcat4620]

Since I buy most of my new stuff on the internet receipts are kind of worthless to me.

 

[Lex Luthier]

Having the original receipt is just another bargaining tool to show what you paid when selling something. Most people don't care.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

NOLA

Folks living in and around New Orleans could give you a good reason for keeping your receipts.

After the Katrina gun confiscation fiasco (and some other random seizures), gun owners who wanted their property returned had to prove that they'd actually bought it.

Evidently the PD down there didn't bother keeping track of which gun came from which place (or some such excuse) and wouldn't release a gun back to its owner without "proof" that it was his.

With that in mind, even if you don't keep the receipt, you might want to have a positive record someplace of your ownership of that firearm (S/N, photos, whatever).

'Cuz, well, you just never know.

 

[Owen Sparks]

I always record my serial numbers but don't keep reciepts.

 

[CoRoMo]

While I hold evidence aplenty to prove that my guns are indeed my property, I probably don't hold enough evidence to prove that I purchased any of them.

In fact, I did not purchase all of them.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Have the receipt for every new gun I have bought. 2 decades down the road they make for an interesting walk back in time. I don't a reason to make an effort to throw them out. How tough is it to just stick them inside the owners manual?

 

[o Unforgiven o]

I agree. I keep the boxes for the guns I have and put the receipt in with the owners manual and all the other papers it came with.

 

[CoRoMo]

How tough is it to just stick them inside the owners manual?

That is one easy thing to do!

Is it necessary?

Level with me... what type of tragedy am I headed for?

 

[C96]

You should keep whatever records required to establish ownership and purchase cost. This information is good to have and may be required if any are lost or stolen. The police will want identifying information in case they turn up in their business, the insurance company will want some of this information if you expect reimbursement for loss.

Been there, done that.

 

[bigfatdave]

if I think about it, the reciept gets tossed in the factory box, which then goes into the bin or on top of the bookshelf or into the closet or anywhere else I can stash it without making obvious clutter

But I'm not losing sleep over the receipts for my boomsticks - I'm not required to document that crap, I'm just keeping the factory/POS stuff on hand for improbable future resale.

 

[smalls]

I usually just tuck them in the safe. I keep them in case they're damaged or stolen for insurance purposes.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Smalls, that was exactly what prompted my poll; I've been keeping them around in a safe till it occurred to me a) they were fading and b) they'd work great to feed a fire.

Some of them even have gun oil on them

 

[C96]

I created a small scrap book kind of log. A picture, plus date and cost of purchase and any identifying marks. I keep the book in my safe deposit box at the bank.

If you ever do get burgled, I know it can't happen to you, you will probably wish you had better record keeping.

If the police do recover stolen property, you will need to establish ownership before it it is returned.

 

[Rmart30]

I keep all my receipts for them. There have been quite a few cases of LE asking for proof of ownership before returning a firearm to someone even after charges or other circumstances were disproved or dismissed.

Here is one that was posted on this forum last yr.
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-586277.html