It seems like the hobby of collecting may have become an activity of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t go into someone’s Chaska Beach place and not find Hummels, Cookie Jars or a Pooh Bear collection.
Chaska Beach baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting things. The tendency today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downscale or sadly when a collector family member passes what do you do with their Art, Vinyl Records or Pooh Bear collection?
You could try to sell the Winnie the Pooh Collectibles online. Some of the difficulties you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, writing inviting 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. Great Aunt may have paid $70 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 Chaska Beach Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Great Aunt’s treasured items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Chaska 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 Great Aunt 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 approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Winnie the Pooh 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 Chaska Beach collector and owner I let them know which numbers their items will be in the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection. Their collection 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 items 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 items. You can put a price tag on a mug or poster but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Bear Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays entact and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the owner wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Chaska Beach to WI.
If you have collectibles of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to contact me and we can coordinate adding your Mom’s Pooh Collectibles to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633