Ask before the show if you can. Questions on a listing are public — one person asks, and everybody who comes later reads the answer, which is why this is the fastest way to get a real one.
The questions
"Can you show the reverse of the weave?" It is where handloom and powerloom differ visibly and where no description substitutes for an image. Non-answer: another draped photo.
"Handloom or powerloom, and how do you know?" A real difference in work and price. "Sold to me as handloom, I cannot confirm it" is an honest answer and should be priced as one.
"What is the zari, and what can you show?" It is a claim about material. Ask what the seller actually knows.
"Can you show the fold lines and the pallu close up?" Old silk gives way at the folds. This is where a vintage piece fails.
"Is the blouse piece attached, and how much seam allowance is left?" Both decide whether you can have it made to fit. Buying sarees.
"Can I see it in daylight?" Colour under a show lamp is not colour, and this is the most common honest disappointment in the category.
What protection covers
A different piece than shown, damage not described, a missing blouse piece that was listed: seven days from delivery. A colour that looked different on your screen, when it was shown honestly in daylight, is harder — which is why you ask during the show.
Questions people ask
Can I ask for measurements?
Yes — length, width and border width are all fair.
Is a stain a reason not to bid?
Not at the right price. Ask where it is and how big.
What about a vintage saree?
Ask about the folds first. That is where age shows.