It seems like the hobby of collecting may have become an activity of the past. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Dexter City home and not find Hummels, Trading Cards or a Pooh Bear collection.
Dexter City baby-boomers took seriously collecting things. The inclination today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to cut back or sadly when a collector family member passes where do you go with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Paper Weights or Winnie the Pooh collectibles?
You could try to sell the Pooh Items online. Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, figuring out inviting listing descriptions, locating 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. Grandmother may have paid $80 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 Dexter City Goodwill. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Great Aunt’s much-loved items being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Dexter City 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.
Over the years I have been contacted by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Winnie the 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 Dexter City 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 donated items along with mine. I consider their collection as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates 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 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 items. You can put a price tag on a stuffed animal or book but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Winnie the Pooh Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays entact and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the relative wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Dexter City to Wisconsin.
If you have collectibles of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to email me and we can coordinate adding your Great Aunt’s Pooh Items to history and the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633