Should PSA/SGC have a qualifier for Centering?

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by novakjr

For the most part that's what the .5 grade is. Sure, on occasion there are other factors, but many times it's above grade centering that will get you the half...

Agreed.

I hate the O/C qualifier anyway. If a seller provides decent scans (and I know that's the key) of the front and back of a card, the buyer can judge for themselves the centering/eye appeal. If a buyer needs a qualifier to tell them a card is O/C, then they're probably in the wrong hobby.

[U240robert]

I agree with the above.
If the buyer needs a qualifier to tell him if it's centered then he is clueless.
It seems the qualifiers affect the unqualified more.
So many are on ebay to buy cards for investments or to turn quickly, a qualifier scars them off.
It bugs me when I see a PSA 8 (OC) and the card is just slightly off- it still a beautiful card but now it has been tag with the qualifier, which is the leprosy of card collecting.
If I get a card that is a PSA 7 or 8 and has a OC on it, I'll break the card open and sell it raw. I'll leave it to the collector to decide if he wants the card or now.

[Doug]

I've never been a fan of qualifiers to begin with. I think PSA should just factor centering, marks, print defects, etc into the overall grade of the card. SGC and BVG seem to do just fine grading cards without needing qualifiers. The above statement "If a buyer need a qualifier to tell them a card is O/C, then they're probably in the wrong hobby" pretty much sums it up for me.

[insidethewrapper]

Instead of a qualifier such as PSA 8 (OC), it should be PSA 6 because it is (OC).

[GasHouseGang]

A lot of collectors won't collect cards with qualifiers. So I often have asked PSA to grade my submissions without qualifiers. If it turns an 8OC into a 6 so be it. It will be easier to sell when the time comes. I wish people would just collect the card instead of relying on the label.

[Brianruns10]

You all make good points, and I agree that in most respects it should be a moot issue, since one buys the card, not the plastic.

But I still think a centering designation could be useful in this regard: for the purpose of tracking populations, and better determining scarcity and premiums in pricing. If a card can be fairly readily had with good centering, then the premium on centering will be low. But if PSA only has one or two examples of a card that is centered, and one turns up, well then that better enables one to decide to pay more.

And in some cases, I wonder if any centered examples exist at all? Like the 52 Sal Yvars...I have yet to see one that is neither off center nor diamond cut. I would like a centered one, but if indeed if it were possible to know that PSA had or hadn't ever graded a centered example, then I would necessarily adjust my standards. To know, "Okay, there are no centered examples, or only one or two, so this example for sale is the next best thing..I shall buy it, etc., etc."