It seems like the love of collecting may have become an activity of yesterday. It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s Alcorn County house and not find Art, Snowglobes or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Alcorn County baby-boomers were obsessed collecting things. The movement these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to cut back or sadly when a collector family member dies where do you go with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Trading Cards or Pooh Bear items?
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, creating 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. Mother 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 lot of time.
You can give it to a place like a Alcorn County Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mom’s cherished items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Alcorn County kids place. However, many places only want items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer. Plus, your Mother 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 emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept 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 Alcorn 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 donated items along with mine. I consider their collectibles 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 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 collection. You can put a price tag on a stuffie or jewelry 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 relative wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from Alcorn County to Wisconsin.
If you have collectibles of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to email me and we can coordinate adding your Great Aunt’s Winnie the Pooh Items to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633
Corinth | Farmington | Glens |
Kossuth | Rienzi |