Donating Your Mother’s Winnie the Pooh Items

It seems like the interest of collecting may have become a memory of days gone by.  It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Winnebago County home and not find Art, Snowglobes or a Pooh Bear collection.

 

Winnebago County baby-boomers were obsessed collecting items.  The inclination today is to be a minimalist.

 

So when you’re ready to scale down or sadly when a collector family member passes where do you go with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Trading Cards or Winnie the Pooh items?

Selling Pooh Collectibles

You could try to sell the Pooh Collectibles online.  Some of the difficulties you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, creating inviting 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.  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.

Donate Winnie the Pooh Items

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

 

You could donate any plush to a Winnebago 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 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 Mom’s Pooh Collection 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 Pooh Collection. 

 

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 Winnebago County  collector and owner I let them know which numbers their items will be in the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection.  Their collection 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 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 stuffie or jacket but you can’t put a value on happiness.

 

By donating Pooh Bear Items 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 Winnebago 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 Great Aunt’s Pooh Collection to history and the Pooh Museum.

 

Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633

Deb@MostPooh.com