Authenticity cannot be settled on a video call. For outdoor gear the more frequent problem is a genuine item with replaced or worn internals, which matters because this is equipment people rely on.
What to ask them to show
Any serial or model marking, photographed. You can look up what a model should be; you cannot look up a description.
The moving parts worked, on camera. Ask them to turn the handle, run the action, extend it — whatever it does. Bearings and seals announce themselves in movement and hide in photographs.
Which parts have been replaced, asked directly. Phrase it as "what on this is not original?" rather than "is it all original?" — the first invites an answer, the second invites a yes.
Seals, gaskets and anything rubber, close up.
Any case, tool or paperwork that came with it.
What a refusal means
For gear, "it works perfectly" is a claim that can be demonstrated in seconds during a live show. A seller who will not demonstrate it is choosing not to.
Be particularly careful where safety depends on it. Anything load-bearing or pressure-holding is not a thing to buy on reassurance.
What this page will not do
It will not describe how to identify a counterfeit of any particular brand, or what wear on a bearing should look like. Those specifics vary by model and by year.
What protects you if you get it wrong
Gear that is not what it was described as is returnable for 7 days whatever the store's policy says, and a counterfeit is reportable.
Worth asking before you bid: how it will be sent. Length, weight and the things couriers will not carry are real constraints in this category, and collection is often the easier answer.
Questions people ask
Is second-hand gear a bad idea?
No, as long as what has been replaced and what has worn is disclosed. Ask.
Can I ask for it to be tested?
Yes, and during a live show you can ask to watch. That is the format's genuine advantage here.
What about anything legally restricted?
Items needing a licence you do not hold are not sellable here at all, whatever their condition.
More: spotting a counterfeit before you bid, Metzee's position on counterfeits, reporting a seller, questions to ask before bidding on outdoor gear.