It seems like the art of collecting may have become an activity of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t visit someone’s Stebbins home and not find Stamps and Coins, Books or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Stebbins baby-boomers were obsessed collecting items. The movement today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downsize or sadly when a collector family member passes away what do you do with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Books or Winnie the Pooh collection?
You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Items online. Some of the difficulties you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, thinking up attractive 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 $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 Stebbins thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mom’s cherished items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Stebbins kids place. However, many places only want items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer. Plus, your Grandma really took care of the plush and displayed them. Some people have a hard time with a plush collectible becoming a plush child toy.
Many times I have been emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Bear 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 Stebbins 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 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 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 items. You can put a price tag on a stuffie or figurine 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 collection when traveling from Stebbins to WI.
If you have collectibles of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to reach out to me and we can coordinate adding your Mom’s Winnie the Pooh Items to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633