It seems like the interest of collecting may have become a memory of days gone by. It used to be that you couldn’t visit someone’s Fall River County residence and not find Stamps and Coins, Vinyl Records or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
Fall River County baby-boomers took seriously collecting things. The inclination these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale back or sadly when a collector relative passes what do you do with their Hummels, Vinyl Records or Winnie the Pooh collection?
You could try to sell the Pooh Bear Items online. Some of the problems you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, thinking up attractive 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. Great Aunt may have paid $50 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 Fall River County Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mom’s cherished collection being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Fall River County kids place. However, many places only accept 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.
Many times I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept 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 Fall River 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 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 collectibles. You can put a price tag on a T-Shirt or statue 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 owner wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Fall River County to WI.
If you have collectibles of Pooh items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Great Aunt’s Pooh Items to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633
Edgemont | Hot Springs | Oelrichs |