I read what the employee said. But it's also not a refractor.
Here's what I would call it, which is what I've been calling it all along: a card that has both a live version, and a redemption for the same card when stickers come in.
I think this is what they thought they were talking about. Look at these Trent Richardson autos:
Base auto, on-card signature:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-TRENT-RICHARD...=item2a28636afdVariation pose auto, sticker auto:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-Topps-Chrome-...=item4d08390bc1As someone else mentioned, 25 subjects have pose variations, and the auto versions have pose variations as well. It appears that they are in fact sticker autos and refractors.
BUT... Mark Barron does not have any pose variations. They are all the same pose. The auto is also the same pose. it looks like they just assumed that this was another one that had a variation.