Donating Your Mother’s Pooh Collection

It seems like the art of collecting may have become a memory of yesterday.  It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Washington County residence and not find Comic Books, Books or a Pooh Bear collection.

 

Washington County baby-boomers were obsessed collecting items.  The inclination these days is to be a minimalist.

 

So when you’re ready to scale back or sadly when a collector relative dies where do you go with their Hummels, Paper Weights or Pooh collectibles?

Selling Pooh Bear Items

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

Donate Winnie the Pooh Collection

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

 

You could donate any plush to a Washington 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 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 Grandma’s Pooh Bear Items to the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection & Make It Part of History

Over the years I have been emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take 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 Washington 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 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 items.  You can put a price tag on a stuffed animal or jewelry but you can’t put a value on happiness.

 

By donating Pooh Bear Items to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays together and the memories are still there too.  In fact, if the collector wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Washington County to Wisconsin. 

 

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

 

Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633

Deb@MostPooh.com