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 Morgan place and not find Hummels, Paper Weights or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Morgan baby-boomers took seriously collecting items. 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 where do you go with their Precious Moments, Paper Weights or Pooh items?
You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Items online. Some of the problems you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, figuring out enticing listing descriptions, figuring out 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. Mom may have paid $70 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 Morgan Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Great Aunt’s cherished collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Morgan 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 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.
Many times I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Bear Items.
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 Morgan collector and owner I let them know which numbers their items will be in the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection. Their items 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 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 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 poster 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 owner wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Morgan to Wisconsin.
If you have collectibles of Pooh items to donate, feel free to contact 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