I was going through all my stuff to try to organize better and ran across a few items that SEEMED like good ideas but were a complete waste of money! For instance, one of those measure cups for shortening that the bottom slides out to push the shortening out. The bottom is always falling out and its a bigger mess to get the shortening in then to just use a measuring cup! And cheap shiny pans that cakes won't rise in. and these odd scoop things that also looked like a good idea for measuring out cupcake batter, where the batter just spils everywhere (I now use a good old fashion cookie scoop) and I won't even begin to talk about my wilton leveler. Its awful! and all kinds of plastic spatulas that were too cheap and just bend....

So what do you guys have that you wish you hadn't wasted your money on? That looked like it was going to be a good idea, but ended up not being....

Ebay here I come...

I've got a Pampered Chef shortening/measuring cup thinga-majig that slides all over the place when I use it too. Maybe we could do a joint ebay auction--two cups for one! ha ha...


kos

I'll add the garland marker that will only mark one garland before you have to put it back together.

ICING SCULPTOR!!!!

Yup have to agree the garland marker is more of a pain than useful

HI All!

I have to agree with the icing sculptor. What a waste of money. Not to mention that I hate cakes with combing anyway. So many wilton products in general. I buy them and then find better ways of doing things.

I guess we are all alittle compulsive when we shop.

Dawn

I was looking at the garland maker in michael's...man, i'm glad i put it back Sadly enough, I didn't think I could figure out how to use it & I didn't see any instructions included I bought the icing sculptor also. Tried it once & now it's just taking up space i desperately need for other stuff.

Without a doubt, don't even have to think twice, it is the ICING SCULPTOR!!!!!! That thing has got to be the most useless item that Wilton has ever come out with.

Just wanted to say, I would probably throw in my wilton small fondant rolling pin. It's not big enough so it leaves a ridge in larger pieces of fondant.

Good one, Partsgirl25! While I like the size for flowers...mine has become warped! It makes wavy gumpaste! I'm going to go get one of those clear lucite ones from the polymer clay aisle.

I would have to say those tip covers/savers from Wilton. I bought a four pack and they do not clip on to the coupler. They just sort of sit on the tip and coupler and then when you move it falls right off... Also, the create your own message from Wilton where you slide the letters onto a little plate to then leave the impression. The letters don't slide in tight and they wiggle all over the place, making the message all topsy turvy.

I like this post because I'm always tempted to buy stuff at Michael's and I'd rather not if they don't work!

I agree about the icing scuplter and the garland marker!! They are both junky!! I would also get rid of my bake even strips. I got so frustrated with trying to pin them on and keep them tight I finally gave up and bake a little more batter in the pan at lower temp and hardly ever have a hump.
I always get suckered into the newest gadget and usually end up not using it because it's easier the old way.

I agree with the Icing Sculptor. The "teeth" just fall out of the "comb". I tried to use it once and totally hated it. Now it is sitting in the closet taking up space.

The bad thing about not just Wilton but a lot of the cake stuff is that they do not give you good (or any) instructions with the item.

I would say:

1. The large leveler that does not cut straight.

2. The tip covers that fall off

3. The garland maker that I use but never have really figured out how it is supposed to work. It falls apart and has no directions on how to figure out which slots to use.

4. I have the triangle comb. I can never get it to comb evenly all around the cake and I have decided that I don't care for that look myself.

I am sure that I could find other things if I took the time to go through all my stuff and I am equally sure that I will buy the next new shiny gadget that comes along!! I am sucker for all that stuff.

C

I purchased a large spatula from Pampered Chef thinking I had found the greatest thing since sliced bread ~ only to discover it sticks to my KA metal bowl...a wasted $15...

I used to think the same about the tip covers, but now I wrap a square of wax paper around the tip/coupler first, then put the tip cover on and it stays! It still doesn't work as well as I'd like, but it's better than nothing, since I can't return them, LOL!

I haven't found too much that is just junk, although there are things I bought that I don't use as much as I thought I would, or not at all sometimes. There are many more things that I had thought about buying and won't now, thanks to this thread!

Laura.

Great topic idea - I am reading through it nodding my head in agreement - especially for the tip covers (thanks for the 'tip' to making them usealbe slejdick)

I also keep struggling with my letters in the create your own message - and it is also way to long. It is nice to know that others struggle with that darn larg leveler (I thought it was just me, since it is not- add that to my yard sale list now) and the triangle comb.

The triangle comb and the create your own message. That bar is terrible. you can't slide the letters across it because of all the points on the letters.Also the Garland maker.

I wrote to Wilton about the Icing Sculptor. I had purchased it elsewhere and I didn't have the receipt. I tried using it and it was just terrible. The pieces kept falling out. I explained to Wilton that I had no receipt therefore I could not return it but that I was very disatisfied with it. They did not offer to refund my money, however, they did send me another Icing Sculptor. Yay!!!! Now I have two of them that don't work.......

[quote="loriemomsIt just amazes me how Wilton has become like THE name in cake decorating, yet so much of their stuff is complete crap. I actually have two IDENTICAL 10 inch pans of theirs, and one bakes completely different from the other. I guess Wilton is good to begin with, since their prices are cheap, but when you get serious, toss their stuff and buy the good stuff![/quote]

I have to agree with this. Thankfully I found this website and had information from working in a bakery that I found other brands that are better. It is amazing that many think that Wilton is the only cake decorating supplier in the US. Wilton just had a good marketing team =)

All I have is Wilton and I have done great so far......so if Wilton seems to be the shall we say....crappy version of cake stuff.....who is the best??? or who should we be upgrading too???

Ok, I think my post came out wrong. I just meant that Wilton seems to have a stronghold on the market when they aren't the only company out there that makes items. There are quite a few wilton items that I have found better than any other brands out there that I have tried. I just meant that they seem to be the only ones, but they aren't.

I also forgot to mention those tip covers. I have noticed that they dont' fit my new couplers from wilton very well. but I have some inherited ones from my Great Grandma and the covers work on those, so maybe they changed their design just enough to not work on all their couplers?

I wasn't trying to demean any of the posts....It just seems like a generalization that a lot of the Wilton stuff is crappy....I get frustrated with their gel pastes...It seems I never get the right color I want and if I use leaf or kelly green, or royal blue I get a weird liquid color around the bottom of my cake from it....gross....I was just curious what I need to start looking for and by who when my Wilton stuff wears out.....

wahoo for another star!!!

OMG!!! there's a lot of things that are posted in here I wanted to buy!! glad I've read that post!!! you all just saved me around 100$!!!

guess I'm learning everyday

thanks again
Lorris

What other brands would you guys recommend for pans? I'm just starting out so I have a few Wilton pans and they do seem a little thin. I noticed they also have Decorator Preferred which seem to be a little thicker (so might be better)? I'm just curious what other brands are out there? I know there is Ateco, anything else? I plan on doing this long term so I'd like to get stuff that will hold up for the long run...

I guess my question is.... what is the good stuff?

Thanks!