Donating Your Mother’s Winnie the Pooh Collectibles

It seems like the art of collecting may have become a memory of the past.  It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s Santa Monica home and not find Precious Moments, Cookie Jars or a Pooh collection.

Santa Monica baby-boomers loved collecting items.  The inclination these days is to be a minimalist.

So when you’re ready to downsize or sadly when a collector family member passes away where do you go with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Vinyl Records or Pooh Bear collection?

Selling Winnie the Pooh Collectibles

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, figuring out inviting 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 $50 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.

Donate Winnie the Pooh Items

You can give it to a place like a Santa Monica Goodwill.  They will take it.  However, some people struggle with the thought of their Great Aunt’s well cared-for items being separated and sold for .99 cents.  The plush could become a dog toy.

You could donate any plush to a Santa Monica kids 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. 

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

Many times I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Items. 

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 Santa Monica  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 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 collectibles.  You can put a price tag on a stuffed animal or pair of socks 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 together and the memories are still there too.  In fact, if the owner wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Santa Monica to WI. 

If you have collectibles of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to reach out to me and we can coordinate adding your Great Aunt’s Winnie the Pooh Items to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.

Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633

Deb@MostPooh.com