Home delivery should include liftgate service, otherwise you're not getting it off the truck. I would hope the driver could dolly it into your garage after unloading, but check with the shipper - some may have policy to not mess with freight once off the liftgate.

I've only bought NIB CGC and sterns. Not sure if any of this applies. My CGC game's box didn't have a bottom and the game was strapped on a mini pallet. I didn't want to hand truck it that way. The guy delivered it to my driveway, waited for me to remove the box and inspect it, then left after I signed for it.

The stern game came in a full box that was labeled "truck this side" so you knew which side you could use for a hand truck. I liked that a lot better. I hand-trucked that one around before I opened the box. I have never had a nib problem or horror story so I don't know about that.

It's going to depend on the shipping company what their policy is. I've had a full size semi out front and had to unload it myself and other times they brought a lift gate truck and pallet jacked it to the garage. They'll call to make arrangements and you can ask them then and see if they will move it to the garage for you. As long as you have someone there over the age of 18 you're fine.

The last NIB Stern I had delivered, they were supposed to call 30 minutes before delivery so I could drive home to be there. I get a call that they will be there in 10 minutes! There's no way I could get there that fast. I tried. When I got there it was sitting in the middle of the driveway. He wanted the signature and he was gone. So it had to sit there until I could get it moved into the garage myself. It sometimes never goes as smoothly as you'd like.

They will roll it up into your garage as long as it’s ground level and relatively close to the street

That being said I would never have a pinball delivered without me being there

Leaving at the curb or bringing it into your garage will be up to the driver. Typically the only need to drop at curb (unless you paid extra to bring it inside). But most drivers will bring it into a garage as long as their skid hand truck can get there easily, no gravel, steps....

Really depends on the shipping company, but most won't bring it in the house, however all of them will (or should!) put it where you want outside, including a garage as long as it's a simple wheel in.

My experience is

DHL: Drops off outside
SEKO: Drops off outside
STI: Brings inside (but no stairs)

No need to wax the playfield when you first get it, but you can wipe it down with a microfiber cloth (and maybe some Novus 1) if you want to be fussy. Wipe the balls, too. And yeah, far better to keep it in the box when transporting, just truck the correct side. No chance of scratches or other mishaps. It's a little heavier/bulkier, but a good dolly with a strap and you're fine.

I’ve had two NIB Spooky’s delivered and no issue either time bringing it into the garage for me. My wife had to receive one since i was out of town. Big thing is to inspect and make sure there is no obvious damage. Crushed box, forklift holes through the side, broken glass sounds when you shake box. That kinda thing. If it looks like it’s damaged then refuse the shipment. A lot easier for Spooky (or a distributor) to deal with shipping damage if you don’t sign for it. Thats the instructions i got from a distributor anyway....