It seems like the love of collecting may have become an activity of yesterday. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Accomack County residence and not find Art, Vinyl Records or a Pooh collection.
Accomack County baby-boomers really enjoyed collecting items. The movement these days is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to cut back or sadly when a collector relative dies what do you do with their Comic Books, Vinyl Records or Winnie the Pooh items?
You could try to sell the Pooh Collection online. Some of the issues you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, creating enticing 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 $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 plenty of time.
You can give it to a place like a Accomack County thrift store. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Mom’s cherished collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Accomack County 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 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.
Over the years I have been approached by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take 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 Accomack County 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 Pooh Bear 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 items. You can put a price tag on a plush or toy but you can’t put a value on happiness.
By donating Pooh 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 items when traveling from Accomack County to Wisconsin.
If you have collectibles of Pooh items to donate, feel free to message me and we can coordinate adding your Mother’s Pooh Bear Collectibles to history and the Winnie the Pooh Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633