Donating Your Great Aunt’s Pooh Collectibles

It seems like the art of collecting may have become a memory of the past.  It used to be that you couldn’t visit someone’s Lake County place and not find Hummels, Trading Cards or a Pooh collection.

 

Lake County baby-boomers were obsessed collecting items.  The movement today is to be a minimalist.

 

So when you’re ready to downscale or sadly when a collector relative dies where do you go with their Salt and Pepper Shakers, Vinyl Records or Winnie the Pooh items?

Selling Pooh Items

You could try to sell the Winnie the Pooh Collectibles online.  Some of the problems you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, figuring out appealing listing descriptions, locating 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 $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.

Donate Pooh Items

You can give it to a place like a Lake County thrift store.  They will take it.  However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandma’s adored collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents.  The plush could become a dog toy.

 

You could donate any plush to a Lake County children’s 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. 

Donate Your Mother’s Pooh Bear Collectibles to the Guinness World Record Largest Pooh Collection & Make It Part of History

Many times I have been emailed by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will take Pooh Bear Collectibles. 

 

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 Lake County  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 collection along with mine.  I consider their items as THEIR collection in my database.

 

When someone donates Winnie the 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 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 stuffie or poster but you can’t put a value on happiness.

 

By donating Pooh Items to the Guinness World Record Pooh Collection the collection stays grouped and the memories are still there too.  In fact, if the relative wants, they can even visit their items when traveling from Lake County to WI. 

 

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

 

Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633

Deb@MostPooh.com