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 Todd Creek residence and not find Precious Moments, Trading Cards or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Todd Creek baby-boomers took seriously collecting items. The inclination today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downscale or sadly when a collector family member passes where do you go with their Comic Books, Trading Cards or Pooh collection?
You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Collectibles online. Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, creating 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. Grandma may have paid $40 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 Todd Creek Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mother’s well cared-for collection being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Todd Creek 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 Great Aunt really took care of the plush and displayed them. Some people have a hard time with a plush collectible becoming a plush child toy.
Many times I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Winnie the Pooh Collectibles.
My answer is with great excitement! I am always honored and humbled to – in my words – “to take care of their collection”.
If I am talking to the Todd Creek collector and owner I let them know which numbers their items will be in the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection. Their collection becomes part of history vs. being sold for a buck at a rummage sale. I let them know I will showcase their donated items along with mine. I consider their collectibles as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates Pooh Bear Items 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 T-Shirt or poster 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 relative wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Todd Creek to Wisconsin.
If you have collectibles of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to contact me and we can coordinate adding your Grandmother’s Pooh Bear Collectibles to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633