Poll: should PSA adopt a qualifier for exceptional centering?

[drcy]

Yes definitely, and there should also be qualifiers to for when the sky is blue, the grass is green and when the water is wet for collectors who can't determine those things either.

At some point-- say when he has to be told that a card is rectangular or the 1971 Topps borders are black or that a card is perfectly centered or that an autograph is Mint--, that a collector doesn't deserve to own a card. "Sorry, you're too stupid. Please, join another hobby."

[chalupacollects]

Since it is just one part of the grading process, if you were to put the notation on it for centering than you might as well go back to Beckett's 4 score process...

[barrysloate]

I said no because anyone can easily look at a card and determine if it is well centered. We don't need somebody else to do what we can do ourselves. Keep it simple.

[insidethewrapper]

NO qualifiers ! There are guidelines in reference to centering for each grade, use them ! How can a card be a "9" with poor centering / etc ? It must be centered , as per guideline , to get that grade.

[52ToppsMantle]

My answer is no. I think the PSA grading scale works well as it is. Don't see a need to inject some new disclaimer that sellers would use to jack up the price even more.

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by drcy

a collector doesn't deserve to own a card. "Sorry, you're too stupid. Please, join another hobby."

Now THESE must be the guys paying higher for a PWCC auction when a buy it now exists for less! Send them my way

[ruth_rookie]

We’ve heard a lot of reasons supporting folks’ “no” votes. I’m curious about the reasons for the affirmative. Anyone care to share their “yes” logic?

[Lorewalker]

Definite no. Not sure there is anything more obvious than the centering on a card and of all the attributes upon which a card is assessed for the grade, centering is the only one that is not subjective. Premiums are already being paid for well centered cards. Feels more like a gimmick for those who are caught up in cards being centered.

[The Nasty Nati]

PSA sort of already does that with the .5 grades.

[Griffins]

Originally Posted by The Nasty Nati

PSA sort of already does that with the .5 grades.

Exactly. When they went to half point grades Joe Orlando said it was basically for exceptional centering, and .5 grade was really closer to .8

Was hoping someone would ask if it goes to 11, but it didn't happen.

[AGuinness]

No for me. There are already enough uneducated collectors who buy the slab and not the card, we don't need to exacerbate the problem.

BUT, if anyone were to do it, it should be a TPG. The stickers that sellers add to slabs noting exceptional centering are ridiculous. Everyone should take the grading done by TPG with a grain of salt (not to mention that everyone should be familiar with TPG guidelines that would indicate what the centering limits are for a grade), but any sticker - or other denotation - a seller adds to a card should be taken with a HUGE grain of salt, because they're express purpose is to sell the card and maximize profit and/or turnaround time (I don't have a problem with maximizing either of these, as that is their business).

Centering is baked into the price. If there is any question about why cards are priced as they are, it's an opportunity for the seller and potential customer to discuss the card's attributes. That's also the opportunity for the potential customer to learn more about the card and grow as a collector. Qualifiers, and in particular stickers added by sellers, would curtail this opportunity, I think.

We need more educated collectors, not collectors who buy slabs or qualifiers.

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by Griffins

Exactly. When they went to half point grades Joe Orlando said it was basically for exceptional centering, and .5 grade was really closer to .8

Was hoping someone would ask if it goes to 11, but it didn't happen.

I believe the half grades were supposed to be for exceptional eye appeal, with more consideration given to centering. But I have seen plenty of off centered cards that got the half grade bump as well as many dead centered cards that did not. Looks like I'm in the minority but I voted for the positive qualifier.