A lot depends on the stand the tank was on before you get it. If it has been poorly supported and stressed over a number of years, chances are that the transporting will finish it off. A tank on a poorly built stand will rarely last over ten years. I have heard of tanks that have been running 30+ years though. As for the chip issue, it would depend on where the chip is, and the shape of the chip. If it's a rounded small chip, it's probably ok. If the chip has a sharp point or rough edge to it, i would pass.