It seems like the pastime of collecting may have become a memory of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s Autauga County residence and not find Comic Books, Cookie Jars or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Autauga County baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting stuff. The inclination these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to cut back or sadly when a collector family member passes away what do you do with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Books or Pooh items?
You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Collectibles online. Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, thinking up appealing 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 $60 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 Autauga County thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mom’s adored collection being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Autauga 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 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 approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Bear Collectibles.
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 Autauga 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 collection along with mine. I consider their items 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 mug or book 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 collector wants, they can even visit their collectibles when traveling from Autauga County to WI.
If you have collectibles of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Winnie the Pooh Collection to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633
Autugaville | Billingsley | Prattville |