Donating Your Mother’s Pooh Bear Collection

It seems like the interest of collecting may have become a memory of yesterday.  It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s Burbank home and not find Precious Moments, Books or a Pooh collection.

Burbank baby-boomers took seriously collecting stuff.  The craze today is to be a minimalist.

So when you’re ready to scale down or sadly when a collector family member passes away what do you do with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Vinyl Records or Winnie the Pooh collectibles?

Selling Winnie the Pooh Collectibles

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, writing inviting 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.  Grandma 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.

Donate Pooh Collectibles

You can give it to a place like a Burbank Goodwill.  They will take it.  However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mom’s much-loved collection being separated and sold for .99 cents.  The plush could become a dog toy.

You could donate any plush to a Burbank 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 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. 

Donate Your Mother’s Pooh Bear Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection & Make It Part of History

Over the years I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Winnie the Pooh Items. 

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 Burbank  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 collectibles 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 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 collection.  You can put a price tag on a stuffed animal or book but you can’t put a value on happiness.

By donating Winnie the 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 collectibles when traveling from Burbank to WI. 

If you have a collection of Pooh items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Great Aunt’s Winnie the Pooh Collectibles to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.

Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633

Deb@MostPooh.com