Legal Question in Consumer Law in Illinois

How small was this shop where the owner could not even remember your purchase? Is the "no warranty repairs without a receipt" policy posted? Apparently it was used so you don't have a warranty card from the manufacturer to prove anything. But since it's the same tax year and he most likely had to file (and retain) his ST-1 Illinois ROT tax returns and register tapes, and you know at least the month when you bought it, he should still have a copy of the receipt himself. If he refuses, you can write him a certified letter stating he sold it to you in January, he should remember the sale, the "no warranty work without receipt" was not posted, you'll file a BBB complaint and one with the Attorney General of Illinois Consumer Fraud Division, and see how he reacts. But yes if that's his policy he can still try and sue you -- and even if he says it was not warranted but concocts a story about how you abused the machine.... it will cost him more to file and time and effort to appear in court, and he won't be entitled to legal fees even if he wins, so it may just be a bunch of bluster OR he may just do it on "principle" or has nothing better to do. He sounds like a creep, and lost a customer over a $2.95 piece of rubber (and his precious $20 labor charge).