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 walk into someone’s Lake County home and not find Salt and Pepper Shakers, Books or a Pooh Bear collection.

 

Lake County baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting things.  The tendency today is to be a minimalist.

 

So when you’re ready to cut back or sadly when a collector relative passes away what do you do with their Hummels, Cookie Jars or Pooh collectibles?

Selling Pooh Bear Collectibles

You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Collection online.  Some of the difficulties 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, handling returns on damaged items, etc. 

 

Also, figuring out pricing can be challenging.  Great Aunt 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 Pooh Collection

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

 

You could donate any plush to a Lake County children’s 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. 

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 contacted by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Winnie the Pooh Collection. 

 

My answer is absolutely!  I am always honored and humbled to – in my words – “to take care of their collection”. 

 

If I am talking to the Lake 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 donated items along with mine.  I consider their collectibles 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 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 stuffed animal or pair of socks but you can’t put a value on happiness.

 

By donating Pooh 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 collectibles when traveling from Lake County to WI. 

 

If you have collectibles of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to call me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Pooh Bear Collection to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.

 

Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633

Deb@MostPooh.com