Okay so today my EVGA step-up card came in the mail! But when i opened the brown box that my card was shipped in i noticed that the box said "REF" as shown on the box that a 04G-P4-2984-KR model gtx 980 would be in.  I thought id better check into this before opening because it was supposed to contain a gtx 980 04G-P4-2981-KR model....and when i check the serial numbers/model numbers on the back of the box and card inside they are matching and showing that it contains a 04G-P4-2981-KR. I called cust. service and they said that a box could have gotten mixed up or card or something of the sort and didnt really seem concerned.  Im not really as concerned as i am confused/curious, and after searching forums n posts high n low i could find no record of EVGA ever putting a product in a different products box!?!?! So before i open this sucker....which may be the only way to find out?!?! Can anyone shed some light on this....id love to slap it in my pc and get back to gaming but i suppose ill wait a bit longer just incase itd be a boo boo to open it for some odd reason....i can post pics if anyone would like to see what im talking about if this post has anyone confused.  Also the "REF" on the box of model 2984 version of the card feels like a sticker but its under the plastic wrap and appears as if it were applied by machine so its not a human error?!?! LOL IDK any insight would be great, and im prob just lucky enuf to get a 2981 with an upgraded 2984 box/sticker?!?!?!?! WOOT! <3EVGA :-).....THANKS FOR READING MY RAMBLE!

 So the box has a "REF" sticker on it, the part number says it is what it is suppose to be. The serial number matches. I am confused as to what the problem is?  Perhaps "REF" is for reference? Or maybe someones initials?
Edit
Now I see not the card you were suppose to get. Sometimes I am so blind.

REF either stands for reference or refurbished. I'm gonna go with refurbished since it's a replacement card.

oh and as far as a replacement RMA...it is not?!?! ....it was the 980 i received for stepping up my 970. Im not how they choose step up cards but from what i was told more than once by EVGA is that the step up cards are BRAND NEW FACTORY SEALED.....NOT REFURBISHED!! If these are indeed refurbs...i feel so taken and used bahaha ..better not be! :-( ..before stepping up i made for certain on more than one occasion they were brand new and not refurbs and EVGA reps/techs/support all had the same answer yes factory sealed brand new NOT refurbished or returns. 
 

yeah that good ole giant red RMA sticker on the brown shipping box u get is prob what had you thinking refurb.  But when you enter or take advantage of the step up program you do actually receive an RMA # so i assumed this was the reason for looking a lot like a replacement for a bad/faulty card.....but nope...just a stepper upper.

It's a 2981 card if the sticker in the box (on the card) reads 2981. It was somehow placed in another box, likely because the original one was unavailable or damaged. I have no doubts that the card is correct, but it is very strange it's in the wrong box.