It seems like the love of collecting may have become a memory of yesterday. It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s Livingston place and not find Precious Moments, Paper Weights or a Pooh Bear collection.
Livingston baby-boomers loved collecting things. The inclination these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to cut back or sadly when a collector family member dies what do you do with their Precious Moments, Cookie Jars or Pooh collection?
You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Items online. Some of the hurdles you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, creating inviting 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. Grandmother 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 lot of time.
You can give it to a place like a Livingston Goodwill. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Great Aunt’s beloved collection being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Livingston 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 Grandmother 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 take Pooh 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 Livingston 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 donation of collectibles along with mine. I consider their items as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates 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 collectibles. You can put a price tag on a stuffie or pair of socks but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Items to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays together and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the relative wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Livingston to WI.
If you have collectibles of Pooh items to donate, feel free to call me and we can coordinate adding your Mother’s Pooh Items to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633