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 Strafford County home and not find Salt and Pepper Shakers, Snowglobes or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Strafford County baby-boomers took seriously collecting items. The tendency today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale down or sadly when a collector relative dies what do you do with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Cookie Jars or Winnie the Pooh collection?
You could try to sell the Pooh Collectibles online. Some of the problems you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, writing enticing listing descriptions, locating 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 plenty of time.
You can give it to a place like a Strafford County Goodwill. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mom’s beloved collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Strafford 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 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.
Over the years I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Collectibles.
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 Strafford 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 collection as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates Winnie the 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 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 T-Shirt or toy but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays grouped and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the relative wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Strafford County to WI.
If you have collectibles of Pooh items to donate, feel free to email me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Pooh Collectibles to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633
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