Ding on a 2nd hand frame - should I be worried?

[wesley_r]

I started another thread where I asked for opinions on the Commencal Meta 5.5 that I am considering buying (an '07 model with the triangular swingarm). The response was that it's a good bike for what I'm after - I narrowly missed some of the ones for sale on the hub and I'm pretty convinced that a Meta will serve my needs.

 

After starting the thread I went back and took another look at the bike - it was then I discovered a small ding in the vertical tube (the seat tube) - it's about the size of a 10c coin in diameter and a mill or 2 deep. It's not big enough that it's bent the frame or anything, and it's right by the suspension linkage so the assumption is the shock was taken out for servicing and the bike "compressed" OR perhaps it had one massive bottom out.

 

Is this a sign to steer clear, or something I should worry about, or if the price is right should I ignore it as minor and purchase anyway?

Edited June 2, 2011 by the_wes

[TNT1]

Where on the seat tube is it? As in where between the BB and the seat pin clamp?

[wesley_r]

This is not the exact bike (just a pic of a meta 5.5 I pulled off the interwebs), but the ding is more or less where I've marked it. So, as if the suspension linkage has knocked up against the frame

Edited June 2, 2011 by the_wes

[wesley_r]

here's a pic. thinking it really is pretty minor, and the owner's willing to drop his price. I can get this for R6.5k

Edited June 2, 2011 by the_wes

[wesley_r]

couple of other dings, nothing major

 

amazed at how many layers of paint commencal put on these frames!