- Do I legally need to keep a purchase ledger as a secondhand dealer?
- In most US states, yes. Regulations vary significantly — California, Texas, Florida, New York, and most other states require pawnshops and secondhand goods dealers to record seller identity, item description, and transaction date. Some jurisdictions also mandate a mandatory "hold period" (typically 5–30 days) before resale, during which police may inspect the ledger. This tool helps you capture all five common statutory categories. Always verify your specific state and local requirements with an attorney or your local police department.
- What ID types are acceptable for seller verification?
- Most state laws require a government-issued photo ID. The most common acceptable forms are a driver's license, state-issued non-driver ID card, or passport. Military IDs and tribal IDs are accepted in most jurisdictions. Some states explicitly prohibit accepting an ID that is expired — check your state's secondhand dealer statute. This ledger records the ID type, ID number, issuing authority, and expiry date so you have the full audit trail.
- What does the CSV export include?
- The exported CSV contains one row per purchase record with all statutory fields: transaction date, quantity, item description, brand, model, colour, serial number, purchase price, seller name, age, occupation, phone, full address, ID type, ID number, issuing authority, and ID expiry. Internal notes are not included in the standard export to keep the ledger report clean, but you can include them by editing the export function. The date-range filter lets you pull records for a specific reporting period — for example, the past 30 days for a police inspection.
- Is my data safe? Can I back it up?
- All records are stored in your browser's IndexedDB, which persists across browser sessions on the same device and browser profile. The data is not synced to the cloud and is not accessible to Knackpad or any third party. To back up, export a CSV regularly and store it securely. Clearing your browser data or switching browsers will remove the local records — the CSV export is your permanent record. For a multi-device or multi-staff setup, export CSV after each session and import into a shared spreadsheet.
- How do I correct or delete a record?
- Click Edit next to any record in the table to reload it into the form, make corrections, and save. Click Delete to permanently remove a record. Many jurisdictions require dealers to retain purchase records for 1–3 years, so deletion should only be used for genuine data-entry errors, not routine cleanup. Always export a CSV before bulk-deleting records.