Nah, it won't be stuffed. They are just temprimental until you work out the right combination to put it up/down.

Does it have a twisty lock thing in the base? This needs to be unlocked whilst you are putting the sides up. Sometimes it takes awhile to work out lock/unlock.

Normally, you don't want base flat until all sides are up. All the feet kinda sitting close together whilst the sides click in and then you push the base down and twist the lock thing in the middle.

When packing up, you do the opposite, turn the twisty thing and bring the middle of the base up really high which bring the feet together and then the sides should unlock. If the sides aren't all unlocking, try bringing the base up higher.

Forcing the sides doesn't work (i tried that!) but pulling the base up higher should unlock whatever it is that's stopping the sides clicking.

If you can get someone to help it might be easier.

Good luck