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 Lee County place and not find Stamps and Coins, Books or a Pooh Bear collection.
Lee County baby-boomers were obsessed collecting items. The trend these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downsize or sadly when a collector relative dies what do you do with their Stamps and Coins, Trading Cards or Pooh Bear collectibles?
You could try to sell the Winnie the Pooh Collection online. Some of the difficulties you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, thinking up enticing 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. Grandmother may have paid $90 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 lot of time.
You can give it to a place like a Lee County Goodwill. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandmother’s beloved collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Lee County children’s place. However, many places only want 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 emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Winnie the Pooh Collectibles.
My answer is absolutely! I am always honored and humbled to – in my words – “to take care of their collection”.
If I am talking to the Lee County 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 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 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 collectibles. You can put a price tag on a stuffie or jewelry but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays together and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the collector wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Lee County to WI.
If you have collectibles of Pooh items to donate, feel free to message 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
Auburn | Loachapoka | Opelika |
Pepperell | Roanoke Junction | Smiths Station |