GAI Rejects; but SGC Grades-Very Scary ?

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

At the Philly Show last week I decided I would get my
favorite T206 card, Walter Johnson (portrait), graded.
I took it from my set and submitted to GAI first for a
$5 "preview". GAI rejected it for top border trimmed.

Of course I was surprised, but undaunted, so I submitted
to SGC. SGC doesn't have a "preview" so I took a risk
and paid them the $25 up front to grade my Johnson.

As you can see SGC graded it. I not happy with this grade,
but they did explain it. There is a discoloration on the
upper part of the back of the card; accounting for this
low grade on a card which otherwise appears near mint.

So, how can anyone have any confidence in the Grading of
cards when experiences such as this demonstrate the very
arbitrary nature of this industry.

My point here is, what did GAI see, that SGC didn't ?