Donating Your Grandmother’s Pooh Bear Collection

It seems like the art of collecting may have become an activity of the past.  It used to be that you couldn’t visit someone’s West Hollywood house and not find Precious Moments, Paper Weights or a Winnie the Pooh collection.

West Hollywood baby-boomers were obsessed collecting stuff.  The inclination these days is to be a minimalist.

So when you’re ready to scale back or sadly when a collector family member passes what do you do with their Hummels, Books or Pooh collectibles?

Selling Pooh Items

You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Collection online.  Some of the problems you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, figuring out appealing listing descriptions, figuring out postage, packaging materials and weighing each item, answering question messages from potential buyers, handling returns on damaged items, etc. 

Also, figuring out pricing can be challenging.  Mom may have paid $70 for an item but the online going rate is only $2.79.  You need to ask yourself the question “is my time worth just a few dollars”?  Online selling can take a significant amount of time.

Donate Pooh Collection

You can give it to a place like a West Hollywood Salvation Army.  They will take it.  However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mother’s beloved collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents.  The plush could become a dog toy.

You could donate any plush to a West Hollywood kids place.  However, many places only want items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer.  Plus, your Mother really took care of the plush and displayed them.  Some people have a hard time with a plush collectible becoming a plush child toy. 

Donate Your Great Aunt’s Winnie the Pooh Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection & Make It Part of History

Over the years I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Bear Items. 

My answer is yes!  I am always honored and humbled to – in my words – “to take care of their collection”. 

If I am talking to the West Hollywood  collector and owner I let them know which numbers their items will be in the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection.  Their items becomes part of history vs. being sold for a buck at a rummage sale.  I let them know I will showcase their donation of collectibles along with mine.  I consider their items as THEIR collection in my database.

When someone donates Winnie the Pooh Collectibles I think it makes people feel better which I am happy for.  Letting go of “things” can be hard for a collector and owners and even sometimes for family members.  As much as we don’t want to be labeled as “materialistic” – things we buy and collect can have sentimental attachments and it’s those feelings that we are attached to probably more than the items.  People remember where they were when they received an item, who they were with or even where in their life cycle they were.  They don’t want those memories to vanish with the items.  You can put a price tag on a stuffed animal or toy but you can’t put a value on happiness.

By donating Winnie the Pooh Items to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays grouped and the memories are still there too.  In fact, if the collector wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from West Hollywood to Wisconsin. 

If you have a collection of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Mom’s Pooh Collection to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.

Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633

Deb@MostPooh.com