It seems like the hobby of collecting may have become an activity of days gone by. It used to be that you couldn’t visit someone’s Tanaina place and not find Hummels, Snowglobes or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Tanaina baby-boomers were obsessed collecting items. The craze 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 Stamps and Coins, Paper Weights or Pooh collectibles?
You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Collection online. Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, thinking up inviting 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. Mother may have paid $30 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.
You can give it to a place like a Tanaina Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mother’s treasured items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Tanaina 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.
Over the years I have been emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Pooh Collectibles.
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 Tanaina 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 items as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates Pooh Bear 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 T-Shirt or toy but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh 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 Tanaina to WI.
If you have collectibles of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to contact me and we can coordinate adding your Grandmother’s Pooh Bear Items to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633