The curious evolution of SGC grading

[Vintagedeputy]

Originally Posted by glynparson

This is not true. A card could get a 2 if near perfect besides the pin hole. It was extremely and I mean extremely rare for one to do so but saying they were maxed out at a 1 is not true. Maybe the sgc employee you spoke to misspoke or you misunderstood but saying it was a 1 no matter what is simply not true. As for current standards I honestly don’t know. I use PSA exclusively because of my previous job at sgc I don’t want their to be any rumor of benefits etc.

Any insider knowledge on why they won't bring the registry back?

[Pat R]

Here's a recently graded T206 with a pin hole and a pencil mark that looks like someone tried to erase that received a 1.5.

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[drumback]

Well, when I made the call, I was passed along to one of the graders, who quite clearly stated that a pinhole was ALWAYS an automatic grade of 1. No exceptions. Just passing along what I was told.

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

Personally I'd rather have a card with a small pin hole than one's that's graded with a noticeable crease.

[Smarti5051]

I agree that the "pinhole" seems like a pretty arbitrary automatic downgrade to 1 (or even 2). I have seen some beautiful cards with the unfortunate pinhole that present so much better visually than a "4" with 85-15 borders, discoloring, and muted colors. Sometimes, the pinhole is so unnoticeable you only know it is there because the card looks like a "7" but is in a "1" holder.

[rhettyeakley]

I would rather have a card with a crease than an actual hole in the card.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by drumback

Well, when I made the call, I was passed along to one of the graders, who quite clearly stated that a pinhole was ALWAYS an automatic grade of 1. No exceptions. Just passing along what I was told.

This seems to be evidence for what many of us have suspected is going on there lately–their graders have been instructed to toughen the grading standards. It would be nice if they let their customers know this as well...

[G1911]

I thought it was supposed to be a pinhole = a grade of 1. Here's the McFarland, older slab (I don't recall the details of each generation as I crack all my graded cards out of their tombs, but it's not a recent one). There is a pinhole that goes all the way through at the top between the laurels, and another at bottom below the "r" in his last name. Even if there was some exemptions or certain eye appeal pinhole cards reaching a 1.5 or 2 instead, I'm surprised it would be this one in that category, or any card that clearly has 2. There is heavy corner wear, a light corner crease, a notch in the bottom middle. This card would (or, should) be a 3 at best without the pinholes.

[Kidnapped18]

Originally Posted by G1911

I thought it was supposed to be a pinhole = a grade of 1. Here's the McFarland, older slab (I don't recall the details of each generation as I crack all my graded cards out of their tombs, but it's not a recent one). There is a pinhole that goes all the way through at the top between the laurels, and another at bottom below the "r" in his last name. Even if there was some exemptions or certain eye appeal pinhole cards reaching a 1.5 or 2 instead, I'm surprised it would be this one in that category, or any card that clearly has 2. There is heavy corner wear, a light corner crease, a notch in the bottom middle. This card would (or, should) be a 3 at best without the pinholes.

FYI this McFarland was graded in June 2015.

[bounce]

the 1914 cracker jack cobb in heritage this weekend had pinhole(s), and it was an SGC 2

[glynparson]

Originally Posted by Vintagedeputy

Any insider knowledge on why they won't bring the registry back?

I have no insider knowledge anymore. I talk to Dave when I see him and have nothing but good things to say about the company from when I worked there but I don’t know what goes on there anymore.