thinking about about the quote from the law I gave, specifically the "As if a transfer from inventory" portion. I have (once) had dealer run the BG check when I placed an order through them instead of when I picked it up. That certainly qualifies as a retail transaction.

The question arises, what do you do if denied and the gun is not in your possession. When ordering from the distributor you are getting from another FFL, no issues with whoever holds the gun. If some agency asks for the paperwork on that transaction and you don't have much because it was never logged... dunno what happens there.