It's a recertified card so there is a good chance that it was returned due to a previous unlocking attempt. I read on Newegg about somebody else getting the same card with the bios switch broken off so it seems that Visiontek/Newegg might be doing that with these "recertified" cards.
Frankly, if they are willing to sell you a card that has been partly disabled and "recertified" then I'd try it out for unlocking and return it if it failed.