It seems like the interest of collecting may have become an activity of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Seabrook Beach home and not find Precious Moments, Trading Cards or a Pooh Bear collection.
Seabrook Beach baby-boomers took seriously collecting stuff. The craze these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to cut back or sadly when a collector relative dies what do you do with their Stamps and Coins, Trading Cards or Pooh collection?
You could try to sell the Winnie the Pooh Collection online. Some of the problems you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, thinking up enticing 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 $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 a significant amount of time.
You can give it to a place like a Seabrook Beach Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandmother’s much-loved collection being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Seabrook Beach 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 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.
Over the years I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Bear Collection.
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 Seabrook Beach 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 donation of collectibles 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 stuffed animal or jacket 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 Seabrook Beach to WI.
If you have a collection of Pooh items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Mom’s Winnie the Pooh Collectibles to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633