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 Marion County home and not find Precious Moments, Vinyl Records or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Marion County baby-boomers were obsessed collecting stuff. The trend today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downsize or sadly when a collector family member passes away what do you do with their Stamps and Coins, Books or 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, creating appealing listing descriptions, figuring out 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 Marion County Goodwill. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mother’s cherished items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Marion County 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 Mom really took care of the plush and displayed them. Some people have a hard time with a plush collectible becoming a plush child toy.
Over the years I have been emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Bear Collection.
My answer is with great excitement! I am always honored and humbled to – in my words – “to take care of their collection”.
If I am talking to the Marion 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 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 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 T-Shirt or poster but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Items to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays together and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the collector wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Marion County to WI.
If you have a collection of Pooh items to donate, feel free to contact me and we can coordinate adding your Mother’s Pooh Collection to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633
Columbia | Foxworth |