bought a used driver off marketplace, pretty sure it's a fake

[HoleInOne_Holly]

Grabbed a Stealth 2 Plus off Facebook marketplace for $185 last week. Seller said it was a gift he never used, still had the plastic on the head. Photos looked clean, guy had a normal profile, met him in a Target parking lot, handed over cash like an idiot.

Got it home and started noticing stuff. Serial number on the hosel is stamped but it's shallow, like it was laser etched rather than stamped deep. Head weight feels light, my old SIM2 is noticeably heavier in hand. Took it to the sim and ball speeds were 4-5 mph slower than my gamer with the same shaft, which makes zero sense for a newer head. Sound is the giveaway though, it's tinny, kind of a hollow ping instead of that dull crack. Grip also smells like a tire fire which I'm told is a thing with the knockoffs.

Did some digging and Taylormade has a serial lookup, mine doesn't come back to anything. So it's either a fake or a tour issue head that fell off a truck, and I know which one my money's on. Not even mad about the $185 honestly, I'm more annoyed that I talked myself into it because the price was good. Lesson learned.

Anyone else get burned on marketplace clubs? And is there any way to actually verify before handing over cash, or is it just a gamble once you're standing in a parking lot?