I guess I can be added to the list of the confused.  I was certainly frustrated by the delay in the Step up and kind of waiting in the dark, but I am patient and reasonable.  Here's my thing, and I make speak for a lot of us, I just want to be kept in the loop.  I hate dealing with the unknown lol.  We don't know when products will launch (not even a guesstimate sometimes), we don't when step ups will start, when they will be available, or how long each step will take and that leads to confusion.
 
For me specifically, I just want to know what the status is of shipping my new card.  Integrated graphics are horrible, and I just want to know what to expect.  By the FAQ's, it should have been shipping already. 
 
I AM NOT complaining, I just want a status update.  I emailed about my step-up and two repair rma's and didn't hear back. 
 
Let me finish by saying, this program, even with the confusion, is incredibly generous, so I thank EVGA for it, but if there is anyway to eliminate some of the confusion by providing step by step updates and realistic expectations, that would awesome. 
 
Just one guys thoughts. 

Well put allen.  This is all I want too.  Just a simple email saying they have experienced a shortage or whatever the reason for the delay.  I'm just sitting here in the dark coming up on 8 business days since they have had my card(10/21) and I have no clue when they are shipping my step up card to me.

Hi Allen1999. I just got an email notification from UPS and my step up card from evga is arriving tomorrow. My shipping must have been upgrade by EVGA or it shipped last week and I'm just getting notified. Either way it does look like they will eventually get to yours. Mine was 8 business days but with the overnight shipping it's like it was 3 business days since I chose ground shipping to MA and it would have arrived around the same time. Thank you EVGA

mutrain
Hi Allen1999. I just got an email notification from UPS and my step up card from evga is arriving tomorrow. My shipping must have been upgrade by EVGA or it shipped last week and I'm just getting notified. Either way it does look like they will eventually get to yours. Mine was 8 business days but with the overnight shipping it's like it was 3 business days since I chose ground shipping to MA and it would have arrived around the same time. Thank you EVGA

Good to hear.        

When did you guys sign up for the program - would like a data point in trems of when you entered the program now that you have heard something back from EVGA.
 
Thanks
Brian

I hope my Step-Up doesn't take 1-2 weeks to fulfill. I Stepped-Up on 6/13, on 6/22 i was bumped to the 6183. But on 10/25, i opt'd to step back down to the original 6181 and was approved same day. Sent my 980 out on Monday.  Was hoping to get it back before the weekend.  :(

I got my UPS notification the same day Mutrain did and was very happy.  it is coming today.  I always wanted the 6183 but it wasn't available when I initiated my step up on 06/01/2016.  I got the offer to upgrade from the 6181 to 6183 for free and jumped on it.  After another long wait, they said if I agreed to go back to the lower product, they would start my step up very soon.  I declined.  And finally I got my notice a couple of months more later. 
 
My product is out for delivery today, so here's hoping everything goes smooth. 
 
Total days start to finish: 155.