Donating Your Mom’s Pooh Bear Collection

It seems like the hobby of collecting may have become an activity of yesterday.  It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s Washington County home and not find Stamps and Coins, Snowglobes or a Pooh collection.

 

Washington County baby-boomers loved collecting things.  The craze these days is to be a minimalist.

 

So when you’re ready to cut back or sadly when a collector relative dies where do you go with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Cookie Jars or Pooh collectibles?

Selling Pooh Collectibles

You could try to sell the Pooh Collection online.  Some of the difficulties you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, thinking up appealing 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 $90 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 Bear Items

You can give it to a place like a Washington County Goodwill.  They will take it.  However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandma’s treasured collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents.  The plush could become a dog toy.

 

You could donate any plush to a Washington County 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 Collection to the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection & Make It Part of History

Over the years I have been emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Winnie the 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 Washington County  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 Bear 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 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 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 items.  You can put a price tag on a stuffie or toy but you can’t put a value on happiness.

 

By donating Winnie the Pooh Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays entact and the memories are still there too.  In fact, if the relative wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from Washington County to Wisconsin. 

 

If you have a collection of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to contact 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