It seems like the pastime of collecting may have become an activity of days gone by. It used to be that you couldn’t visit someone’s Tippecanoe County home and not find Comic Books, Trading Cards or a Pooh Bear collection.
Tippecanoe County baby-boomers took seriously collecting items. The inclination today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale down or sadly when a collector family member passes away what do you do with their Precious Moments, Trading Cards or Pooh Bear items?
You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Collectibles online. Some of the problems you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, figuring out inviting listing descriptions, locating postage, packaging materials and weighing each item, answering question messages from potential buyers, dealing with returns on damaged items, etc.
Also, figuring out pricing can be challenging. Great Aunt may have paid $80 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 Tippecanoe County Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mother’s much-loved collection being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Tippecanoe County children’s 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.
Many times I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Pooh Bear 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 Tippecanoe County 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 stuffie or toy but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Bear Collectibles 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 collection when traveling from Tippecanoe County to WI.
If you have collectibles of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to call me and we can coordinate adding your Mom’s Winnie the Pooh Collection to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633
Americus | Bar-Barry Heights | Battle Ground |
Buck Creek | Clarks Hill | Colburn |
Dayton | Happy Hollow Heights | Lafayette |
Montmorenci | Norma Jean Addition | Shadeland |
Stockwell | Tecumseh | Wabash Shores |
West Lafayette | Westpoint |