Donating Your Great Aunt’s Pooh Bear Collectibles

It seems like the interest of collecting may have become a memory of yesterday.  It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Alma Colonia house and not find Salt and Pepper Shakers, Cookie Jars or a Pooh collection.

Alma Colonia baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting items.  The craze today is to be a minimalist.

So when you’re ready to downsize or sadly when a collector family member passes away where do you go with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Vinyl Records or Winnie the Pooh items?

Selling Pooh Bear Items

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 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.  Grandma 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.

Donate Pooh Bear Collection

You can give it to a place like a Alma Colonia Goodwill.  They will take it.  However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mom’s beloved items being separated and sold for .99 cents.  The plush could become a dog toy.

You could donate any plush to a Alma Colonia kids place.  However, many places only accept items that are new, in the original boxes and are 5 years old or newer.  Plus, your Grandmother really took care of the plush and displayed them.  Some people have a hard time with a plush collectible becoming a plush child toy. 

Donate Your Great Aunt’s Pooh Bear Items to the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection & Make It Part of History

Over the years I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Pooh Collection. 

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 Alma Colonia  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 collectibles 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 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 collectibles.  You can put a price tag on a stuffed animal 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 grouped and the memories are still there too.  In fact, if the collector wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Alma Colonia to Wisconsin. 

If you have a collection of Pooh items to donate, feel free to call me and we can coordinate adding your Grandma’s Winnie the Pooh Items to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.

Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633

Deb@MostPooh.com