Why I'm spending double on shipping to support EVGA Step Up
I'm due, and instead of complaining that it took more than 6 months to come up in queue, let me tell you why I'm spending more than $30 to ship my card to EVGA instead of $15.
I could pull my FTW3 2070 Super out of my computer, wrap the bare card in some bubble wrap, and fit it into a ~$15 USPS Priority Large Flat Rate box.
But I'm sending it back in the full factory box just like I bought it, necessitating a custom box and slightly over $30 shipping.
What do I gain? Nothing. But EVGA gets a card back that might have a slightly higher residual value with all the original packaging.
 
Why am I paying double?
Because EVGA runs this program as a "loss leader." It doesn't make them money, it just helps keep them in the #1 market position in terms of Customer Service reputation, and they hope you remember them when you go buy your (otherwise commoditized nVidia) graphics card. If you think they make money on it, I really doubt it. Their goal is probably to break even. It's one less card they can sell at full retail. The proof is in the pudding... you see any other graphics card company trying to copy the program? If it made money, they would. 
 
So I'm spending the extra shipping to reciprocate a more-than-fair deal and encourage EVGA to keep the program going into the future.

Bretb949
I could pull my FTW3 2070 Super out of my computer, wrap the bare card in some bubble wrap, and fit it into a ~$15 USPS Priority Large Flat Rate box.
But I'm sending it back in the full factory box just like I bought it, necessitating a custom box and slightly over $30 shipping.

 
The FAQ indicates that you must send your card back in the original packaging:
 

We require the original product and all accessories included with the original packaging. The original packaging material and box are recommended for returns to best protect your product.

 
Now they may still accept returns not in their original packaging, but this is what is on the FAQ.
 
FYI, I paid twice as much as you to ship. Shipping rates are largely dictated by distance and I live on the east coast.

cost me $70 for UPS 3 day select, and  I was chastised for not making the package even bigger earlier in the thread. arrived fine and new card is on the way to me now.....

Card delivered yesterday, marked as received earlier today. Estimated ship date is 4/26.

Tm1172
My card arrived at EVGA yesterday and was marked received last night just prior to their closing time. Arrived 4/20. Estimated ship date: 4/23. Time has just slowed to a crawl again.

My estimated ship date was 4/22 and it shipped yesterday
 

My Old EVGA 8800 GTS is powering my system now while I wait for my 3080. It's cool that it still works but I can't play much more than Minecraft. 

I was thinking the same thing. I put the max insurance ($1000 Cdn) on the shipment of my 2080 Super back to EVGA but if they lost that I would be out more than that since it is hard to find another 2080 these days and I would miss out on the 3080 upgrade as well. Hopefully you could at least get your money back from EVGA for the step up and shipping of the 3080 to you.

Cawyke
I emailed them, will call once they open this morning. (EVGA)
What's messed up is that it is at a facility in CA. They are telling me the issue is with "transportation." That the package is on a trailer at the facility right now, I'm not buying that BS. The guy at the UPS store was trying to buy the card off me when I was shipping it... I have a sketchy feeling right now. It was just a 1650, I have a 3070 right now so I'm not really feeling the pain that some would be. I want to sell this 3070 and enjoy the card I've been waiting on. 

I would give UPS a few days to get it sorted out, rather than lose all hope. Don't panic just yet

How long does it take EVGA to mark your shipped card as received? My card arrived there yesterday morning and EVGA still says “received” is pending. I don’t mind a few days for the 3080 to ship out but it would be great for peace of mind to know they actually have my card (and not just the UPS “well we left it there”).

Got my step 2-5 emails this Tuesday, shipped via UPS ground Wednesday morning, and just got the UPS delivery notification (complete with signature receipt). Next I’ll find out how long it takes EVGA to process my old card and ship the new one.

gortman78
Got my step 2-5 emails this Tuesday, shipped via UPS ground Wednesday morning, and just got the UPS delivery notification (complete with signature receipt). Next I’ll find out how long it takes EVGA to process my old card and ship the new one.

At least your tracking works LOL, mine wasn't delivered, and tracking is down, says try again later....

wmunn
3080 didn't come on scheduled delivery date......

Arg! Sorry to hear that. Hopefully Monday? My date was 10/2/2020 so mine is so close yet so far away. Hope you get your GPU soon.

msromike
Just a quick point about this GPU shortage and how Nvidia is actually the reason we don't have our StepUps. Nvidia made everyone think they care about consumer/gamer stock by putting a crypto mining hash rate limiter on some 3060 series. What Nvidia failed to mention is that they have been selling the 3080s directly to crypto farms for 200%+ markup. This leaves fewer DIEs for EVGA to purchase and make new cards with. Just so the "blame" is pointed correctly. It's also not your average gamer/crypto miner it's the 2000+ GPU operations so this is mostly Nvidia's fault not EVGA, not Crypto Miners, not even scalpers. I've worked in the IT field for over 30 years and this is pure insanity. Selling GPUs for twice the price of a top-tier computer (CPU, MOBO, RAM, PSU, M.2, SSD, PSU, and the case of your choice!).
 
 

So essentially if Craptocurrencies never existed we'd be better off.

Got it

IRanNaked

msromike
Just a quick point about this GPU shortage and how Nvidia is actually the reason we don't have our StepUps. Nvidia made everyone think they care about consumer/gamer stock by putting a crypto mining hash rate limiter on some 3060 series. What Nvidia failed to mention is that they have been selling the 3080s directly to crypto farms for 200%+ markup. This leaves fewer DIEs for EVGA to purchase and make new cards with. Just so the "blame" is pointed correctly. It's also not your average gamer/crypto miner it's the 2000+ GPU operations so this is mostly Nvidia's fault not EVGA, not Crypto Miners, not even scalpers. I've worked in the IT field for over 30 years and this is pure insanity. Selling GPUs for twice the price of a top-tier computer (CPU, MOBO, RAM, PSU, M.2, SSD, PSU, and the case of your choice!).
 
 

So essentially if Craptocurrencies never existed we'd be better off.

Got it

 

LOL! Hardly but if it helps you live with the reality... Gamers have been using crypto to make some money back from their computer and GPU purchases for years now. It's becoming the norm to leverage your $1K+ GPU to mine crypto to pay for it. It's the rich crypto people who have thousands of GPUs in warehouses, not individuals. Your lack of interest in cryptocurrency is only evidence of a rude awakening as it will continue to become the standard in currency. People fought the first printed bill as well.
 

here we go new week.. new chance for it to hopefully move again =] this week or next hopefully i finally get to send my card out =] good luck to everyone waiting