Donating Your Mom’s Pooh Bear Collectibles

It seems like the pastime of collecting may have become a memory of yesterday.  It used to be that you couldn’t visit someone’s Washington County house and not find Precious Moments, Cookie Jars or a Pooh collection.

 

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

 

So when you’re ready to downsize or sadly when a collector family member passes where do you go with their Hummels, Trading Cards or Pooh Bear collection?

Selling Pooh Collectibles

You could try to sell the Winnie the Pooh Items online.  Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, creating attractive listing descriptions, figuring out 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.  Grandmother may have paid $90 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.

Donate Winnie the Pooh Collection

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

 

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

Donate Your Great Aunt’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 Items. 

 

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 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 Winnie the 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 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 poster 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 Washington County to WI. 

 

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

 

Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633

Deb@MostPooh.com