Donating Your Great Aunt’s Pooh Collection

It seems like the hobby of collecting may have become an activity of yesterday.  It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s Lincoln County place and not find Hummels, Cookie Jars or a Pooh collection.

 

Lincoln County baby-boomers loved collecting stuff.  The inclination these days is to be a minimalist.

 

So when you’re ready to downsize or sadly when a collector family member dies what do you do with their Precious Moments, Books or Winnie the Pooh collectibles?

Selling Pooh Bear Items

You could try to sell the Winnie the Pooh Collection online.  Some of the problems you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, figuring out enticing 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 $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 lot of time.

Donate Pooh Bear Items

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

 

You could donate any plush to a Lincoln County kids place.  However, many places only want 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. 

Donate Your Mom’s Pooh Bear Items 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 accept Winnie the Pooh Items. 

 

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 Lincoln County  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 donation of collectibles 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 collection.  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 together and the memories are still there too.  In fact, if the owner wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Lincoln County to WI. 

 

If you have a collection of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to call me and we can coordinate adding your Grandmother’s Pooh Items to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.

 

Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633

Deb@MostPooh.com