It seems like the pastime of collecting may have become an activity of yesterday. It used to be that you couldn’t walk into someone’s Iroquois County residence and not find Precious Moments, Paper Weights or a Pooh collection.
Iroquois County baby-boomers were obsessed collecting things. The craze today is to be a minimalist.
So when you’re ready to scale back or sadly when a collector family member dies what do you do with their Precious Moments, Books or Pooh collectibles?
You could try to sell the Pooh Collection online. Some of the difficulties you might face when selling online include: setting up a payment account, thinking up inviting listing descriptions, figuring out postage, packaging materials and weighing each item, answering question messages from potential buyers, dealing with returns on damaged items, etc.
Also, figuring out pricing can be challenging. Great Aunt 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 a lot of time.
You can give it to a place like a Iroquois County Salvation Army. They will take it. However, some people struggle with the thought of their Grandmother’s cherished collectibles being separated and sold for .99 cents. The plush could become a dog toy.
You could donate any plush to a Iroquois 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 Grandma 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 contacted by family members and asked if they can donate and if I will accept Pooh Bear Collection.
My answer is absolutely! I am always honored and humbled to – in my words – “to take care of their collection”.
If I am talking to the Iroquois 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 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 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 stuffed animal or poster 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 relative wants, they can even visit their collection when traveling from Iroquois County to Wisconsin.
If you have a collection of Winnie the Pooh items to donate, feel free to call me and we can coordinate adding your Mother’s Winnie the Pooh Collectibles to history and the Pooh Bear Museum.
Deb Hoffmann - 414-708-0633
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