Never assume anything, always ask. One fan got a necklace advertised and priced as 14k gold but which was not real gold. The seller may have believed it was gold or simply believed it could pass as gold. The seller thought she had a good product and the packaging was beautiful, each wrapped like a precious work of art. I didn't have the heart to ask for a refund after I found out she was trying to earn money for college materials.
Most photos are glossy and most glossies are photos.
Always ask for a detailed description of the condition of the item, especially if it's expensive. This will save you from finding out that the display picture used was just a handy picture off the Internet and the seller's own version is old and scuffed, or the seller may have a stock of these items and chose their best example to display. These descriptions are carefully defined in the world of collectibles and art and are usually judged and labeled by a certified art dealer. With a little practice and patience we can bring Michaeling up to that elite level. Sure that was 10 years ago, but it's been in the garage all this time.