I chose EVGA as the GPU for my first ever build because of their reputation for good customer service and that has been the case so far.  However my main source of interaction with a company should be through the use of it's products  not talking to the polite customer service rep and EVGA's product has done nothing but disappoint me. I had my card less than 6 months before one day my machine crashes, i restart it and happen to look through the side panel only to see a small plume of smoke coming out of my GPU. And before you ask I have a quality power supply and I have tested the voltage - it was definitely the card. I submit an RMA, pay $26 dollars shipping, wait TWO weeks until last night I get the package, open it and immediately notice damage on the card's vents. The packing box it came in was unmarked, as was the plastic retainer the card was housed in.  Not only is are there visible damage to the card but it now has an extremely loud coil whine which my previous card did not. The replacement EVGA sent me for one of their products that failed on its own, is a refurbished second hand item that obviously saw zero quality control before it was sent out.
 
I understand that the 970 FTW + is not the flagship card but it was certainly not cheap. The very least that EVGA could have done was send me a new card and not a refurb. Now I will have to go through the RMA process again and frankly if I could get a refund I would take it. They say that first impressions are everything and EVGA has certainly made a lasting one on me. 

Thank you for the Reply Jamesl. The email address I was provided by the support line was support@evga. I sent the images yesterday and awaiting a reply.

I have emailed the pictures to you Chris and James. Thank you again for the quick responses.