It seems like the pastime of collecting may have become an activity of days gone by. It used to be that you couldn’t visit someone’s La Tina Ranch house and not find Comic Books, Books or a Winnie the Pooh collection.
La Tina Ranch baby-boomers took seriously collecting items. The inclination these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to downscale or sadly when a collector family member passes away what do you do with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Cookie Jars or Pooh collectibles?
You could try to sell the Pooh Items online. Some of the difficulties you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, writing inviting 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. Grandmother may have paid $40 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 La Tina Ranch Goodwill. 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 La Tina Ranch kids 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 emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept 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 La Tina Ranch 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 collection along with mine. I consider their collection as THEIR collection in my database.
When someone donates 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 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 received 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 T-Shirt or book but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh Bear Items to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays together and the memories are still there too. In fact, if the collector wants, they can even visit their collectibles when traveling from La Tina Ranch to WI.
If you have a collection of Pooh Bear items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Grandmother’s Pooh Items to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633