It seems like the hobby of collecting may have become an activity of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s West Fairfield residence and not find Precious Moments, Books or a Pooh Bear collection.
West Fairfield baby-boomers were obsessed collecting stuff. The inclination today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downscale or sadly when a collector family member passes what do you do with their Comic Books, Paper Weights or Pooh Bear items?
You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Items online. Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, creating 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. Mom 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 significant amount of time.
You can give it to a place like a West Fairfield Goodwill. 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 West Fairfield 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 contacted by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Winnie the 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 West Fairfield 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 collectibles 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 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 collectibles. You can put a price tag on a mug or figurine 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 owner wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from West Fairfield to WI.
If you have collectibles of Pooh items to donate, feel free to email me and we can coordinate adding your Mom’s Pooh Bear Collection to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633