here is a photo from a the auction before i purchased it:
http://i19.ebayimg.com/06/i/08/4a/87/08_3.JPG
there doesn't appear to be a dent here.
i just received an email from the seller saying he only insured it for $100. he said he packed the bike better than the factory would pack it and that UPS is at complete fault. i might ship it back and insure it for the full amount, in which he could take the damaged frame to UPS and get all the money and send it back to me, so neither of us would lose any money. he seems somewhat honest with no intentions of screwing me over. let's hope so.