It seems like the art of collecting may have become a memory of days gone by. It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s San Juan Bautista house and not find Hummels, Trading Cards or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
San Juan Bautista baby-boomers took seriously collecting items. The movement today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to cut back or sadly when a collector family member dies what do you do with their Art, Vinyl Records or Pooh Bear collection?
You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Collection online. Some of the hurdles you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, creating enticing listing descriptions, locating 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. Mother may have paid $90 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.
You can give it to a place like a San Juan Bautista thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Great Aunt’s treasured collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a San Juan Bautista children’s place. However, many places only accept items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer. Plus, your Grandmother really took care of the plush and displayed them. Some people have a hard time with a plush collectible becoming a plush child toy.
Over the years I have been emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Items.
My answer is absolutely! I am always honored and humbled to – in my words – “to take care of their collection”.
If I am talking to the San Juan Bautista collector and owner I let them know which numbers their items will be in the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection. Their collectibles becomes part of history vs. being sold for a buck at a rummage sale. I let them know I will showcase their donated collection along with mine. I consider their collection as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates Pooh Bear 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 collectibles. You can put a price tag on a plush or figurine 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 together and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the owner wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from San Juan Bautista to Wisconsin.
If you have collectibles of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Grandmother’s Pooh Collectibles to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633