To be honest, I've bought some Nike clubs that were counterfeit. Not once, but twice. I now know what I should and should not have done before purchasing. Since most items(golf clubs, purses, shoes, etc.) on online auctions are counterfeit, there are simple things to do to help protect yourself from fraud. Counterfeit golf clubs are made to look like every major company such as Callaway, Nike, Titleist, Ping, Taylor Made, etc. Sometimes you can tell by the quality of the item and sometimes you can't. Sometimes there are small differences and sometimes not. How many of you have received junk emails telling you about replica Rolex watches? Many counterfeit items are made in the same foreign lands as the brand name products (China primarily.) Here are some tips to help you avoid being taken for a ride.

First of all, do not confuse cloned clubs and counterfeit clubs. Golf club clones claim to be made and work as well as the brand name clubs by using similar materials and workmanship but do not claim to be the genuine brand. Clones may look similar, but have noticable differences to avoid trademarks, etc. Clones claim to have the same quality and features, but at a cheaper price. Counterfeit clubs on the other hand, are copies, replicas, or fakes of a brand name golf club(s). These clubs may look just like  brand name clubs, but lack the quality, etc. (Different materials such as steel may be used instead of  titanium on drivers that increase weight and reduce playability.)

When buying from a seller who does not put pictures of the actual club(s) on their listing (stock photo), don't be afraid to ask for pictures. If they can't give you pictures, make sure they are a trusted seller. Check their feedback. Not everyone has a digital camera. If there are pictures, make sure to look for or ask for multiple close ups of the grip(s), shaft(s), and head(s). If you are thinking the price is too good to be true, it might be. Sometimes, but not always, sellers may offer clubs at great prices, but then make up for it in shipping costs. 

Always check the location of the seller as well as their feedback level. Sellers who have a large amount of positive feedback are great because there is a history to go by. Ask the seller questions and compare their photos to items from the manufacturers. Going to a local proshop also helps because you can see and hold the item(s) you might plan to buy. By doing that, you can get an image of what the item looks like you might bid on to compare. Most importantly, have some form of buyer protection like Paypal in the case you get a counterfeit item(s). There is no guarantee that you will be successful in all your "items won", but having a little extra knowledge and buyer protection is better than nothing at all.