It seems like the pastime of collecting may have become an activity of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s West Union residence and not find Art, Trading Cards or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
West Union baby-boomers loved collecting items. The movement these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to cut back or sadly when a collector relative passes what do you do with their Precious Moments, Vinyl Records or Winnie the 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, 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. Mom may have paid $100 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 lot of time.
You can give it to a place like a West Union Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mom’s beloved items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a West Union kids 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 accept Pooh Bear Collection.
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 Union 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 donated collection along with mine. I consider their collection as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates Pooh 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 relatives. 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 purchased 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 T-Shirt or statue 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 collectibles when traveling from West Union to Wisconsin.
If you have collectibles of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to email me and we can coordinate adding your Great Aunt’s Pooh Bear Items to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633