It seems like the interest of collecting may have become a memory of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Swartz place and not find Precious Moments, Trading Cards or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Swartz baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting stuff. The movement these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to cut back or sadly when a collector relative passes away where do you go with their Comic Books, Trading Cards or Winnie the Pooh collectibles?
You could try to sell the Winnie the Pooh Collectibles online. Some of the problems you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, thinking up appealing listing descriptions, locating 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. Mother 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 Swartz thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandmother’s adored collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Swartz kids place. However, many places only accept items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer. Plus, your Great Aunt 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 approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take 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 Swartz 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 collection 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 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 stuffed animal or book 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 owner wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from Swartz to Wisconsin.
If you have a collection of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to call me and we can coordinate adding your Grandmother’s Pooh Bear Collection to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633