Can a customer legally demand that you show him how much you paid for equipment?

Answer 1

'Equipment' as in the tools you use to perform a service?

I'm not really sure what it is you are asking.

I guess your customer can ask, request or demand whatever he wants, but that doesn't mean you have to comply.

Now, if you are in some sort of repair business like auto repair, a customer may ask (demand) to see how much you paid for PARTS. Unfortunately, there are some bad apples out there who might charge you for a new or rebuilt part when they haven't actually replaced anything.

If you are in this type of business, and the customer asks you what your cost was, unless you've done something underhanded, I would simply show them. But you don't have to. And I'm stubborn enough that if a customer got rude with me, I'd refuse for the heck of it - of course, we run our own business, you may not want to try this if you just work there! :)

On the other hand, if you are trying to pull something shady, you may end in court where you will have little choice in the matter if a judge asks to see your invoices and receipts.

In this case, do yourself, and repairmen and mechanics everywhere, a favor; clean up your act.

I would agree with the idea they can demand anything, but you may not have any legal obligation to comply.

One case where you may have to support your bill relevant to what you paid, would be if the customer and you have a contract that specifies that you are to charge only actual costs, or more commonly, "cost plus X%" , for materials, etc. (Common in many contracts, especially with governments). He may then even have a right to know of any arrangements between you and the suppliers, to assure there wasn't a kickback or inflation of price situation. Otherwise, just like any seller, who, how much and how you pay for things is your propriatary information and part of your business plan, and your customer has no right to this. He of course, has the right to say no to a price you want to charge and presumably find a supplier whose price he does agree with.