"Basket pipes" usually have something wrong with 'em that more times than not, won't affect the smoking characteristics. This may include fills in the surface of the briar, a slight out of kilter drilling of the stem or shank, off size bore for that model, etc. Sometimes it may be something small that MAY affect the smoking characteristics, like an out of whack draft hole.
Example, I bought a Blatter & Blatter basket pipe in August for $40. I saw almost the exact pipe in their showcase for $120 later and asked the guy what was wrong with mine it was so cheap. He showed me some very cleverly disguised fills and said "that" was the "ONLY" reason. I already had bought the pipe a while before that, so he had nothing to gain by blowing smoke out his ass.
If you like it and it feels right in your hand, buy it and take pleasure in smoking it. many uppity pipe smokers won't smoke a pipe unless it has the famed White Dot on it, or stamped James Upshall, or something like that. I would like to have a couple of very nice high quality pipes too, but I will say that one of my best smokers is a 45 year old Willard a guy gifted to me that needs some TLC on the finish.
EDIT:
Because my fingers are cold and I can't type worth shit. ???