Basics:

How to avoid damage during assembly

Before carrying the table parts into the building Put a blanket over each table half in such a way as to prevent scratching of the table halves. If you do scratch a table top you can get touch up paint from the manufacturer.
Do not leave on the table on the floor overnight. Uneven floors (particularly basement floors with high humidity levels) will cause the table tops to warp. Often these warps will be only temporary if the table tops are stored in the upright position.

Lean up a side to avoid a fall

Two people should always handle each table half.
Leave plastic protection sheets on the table tops until after the table is assembled.

Use the Robbins Instruction Sheets when available instead of what you get in the box

Printable PDF Instruction Manuals

Assembly Instruction Video Supplements

Like any product that is shipped anywhere there is always the possibility of damage in transit.

Always mark "box damaged, contents to be inspected" if there is any box damaged.
However our ping pong tables are very well packaged and are usually not damaged even when the box is damaged.

The table manufacturers package the tables at the end of the assembly line. They know that damage at the factory is extremely rare and even when it happens the factory damage would rarely get through final inspection. As a result the factories are inclined to provide touch up paint which will match the color of the top.
The factories are inclined to provide touch up paint in the event of a scratch

Factories do not ship tables that are already damaged. This is extremely rare. Inside the Factory damage is not at all likely.
The table manufacturers package the tables at the end of the assembly line. They know that damage at the factory is extremely rare and even when it happens the factory damage would rarely get through final inspection.
The factories will provide touch up paint in the event of a scratch.

In the distribution process the tables are not taken out of the box. The tops are protected by being shipped with the playing surface facing on another.

If a table halve or halves are warped

A warp of a new table tennis table top is often a temporary condition. This can often be corrected by storing the table in a straight up or flat position as suggested in section about restoring the table tops to the flat position.