These are some questions you should ask when buying a golf club on Ebay.

1.  Are the specifications (loft, lie, length) standard from the factory or has it been altered or modified in any way?  If altered or modified, how?  Loft or lie adjusted + or - what degrees?

2.  Irons:  Is there any original finish missing like chipped chrome or worn through (brassing) to bare metal on the sole or face?

3.  Woods:  Does it have original finish or has it been refinished? 

4.  Woods:  If the club head is made of wood, is it cracked or broken in any way?

5.  Woods:  If the club head is made of metal, is it dinged, scratched into the metal, dented or damaged in any way?

6.  Woods:  Are there any marks, scratches or 'sky marks' on top of the club head?

7.  If the shaft is graphite, does it have any scratches or bag wear marks and/or original finish missing?

8.  Is the original shaft label still intact and readable?  What does it say? 

9.  If the shaft is steel, is it pitted, rusted or corroded in any way? 

10.  If the shaft is steel, is it straight and not dented or bent?

11.  What is the flex of the shaft?

12.   What is the overall length of the club measured from the end of the grip to the bottom of the sole where it rests on the ground?

13.  Is the shaft original or has it been replaced and by whom?  Self or professional club maker?
 
14.  Is the ferrule original?  If not, the shaft may have been replaced at some time.  Is the ferrule cracked, chipped or broken in any way?

15.  Is the grip original and still tacky?  If not, what type of grip does it have and how tacky is it? 

16.  Woods:  Does the club come with a new or used head cover that matches the brand and number of the wood?