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 Cedar Crest home and not find Precious Moments, Books or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Cedar Crest baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting things. The inclination these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to cut back or sadly when a collector relative dies what do you do with their Stamps and Coins, Trading Cards or Pooh items?
You could try to sell the Winnie the Pooh Items online. Some of the hurdles 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, dealing with returns on damaged items, etc.
Also, figuring out pricing can be challenging. Mother 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 lot of time.
You can give it to a place like a Cedar Crest thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandma’s treasured items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Cedar Crest 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 Mom really took care of the plush and displayed them. Some people have a hard time with a plush collectible becoming a plush child toy.
Over the years I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Pooh 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 Cedar Crest 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 items as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates Pooh Collectibles 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 collectibles. You can put a price tag on a T-Shirt or poster but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Items to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays entact and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the relative wants, they can even visit their collectibles when traveling from Cedar Crest to WI.
If you have a collection of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to call me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Winnie the Pooh Items to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633