It seems like the pastime of collecting may have become a memory of days gone by. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Rosemead house and not find Stamps and Coins, Cookie Jars or a Pooh Bear collection.
Rosemead baby-boomers took seriously collecting things. The tendency today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale down or sadly when a collector family member dies where do you go with their Art, Books or Pooh Bear items?
You could try to sell the Pooh Collectibles online. Some of the problems you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, writing attractive 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 $100 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 plenty of time.
You can give it to a place like a Rosemead thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mother’s adored collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Rosemead 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 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 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 Rosemead 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 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 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 mug or toy but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Bear Items to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays together and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the owner wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from Rosemead to Wisconsin.
If you have collectibles of Pooh items to donate, feel free to call me and we can coordinate adding your Mom’s Winnie the Pooh Collectibles to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633