Need to vent re: Wilton Classes offered at Michaels! - Page 4

i know i told my mom that she needs to talk to someone but she keeps getting the run around. and she didnt even get anything for the class. she was supposed.

I have come to The Conclusion that some of The folks that work at Michaels don't know their head from their tail. And I have shopped at quit a few of the stores.

Anywho, I finally decided to take The Wilton classes. Class started last week and i said well I might As well take course 1 so That I get all 3 certificates. So the Saturday drive To Michaels to sign up. The class was Starting on the Tuesday. So I decided to leave home early and drive to class then i Will have 30 minutes to browse the store. I get there and I browsed then about 10 minutes before class I asked where the class room was. I sat there for about 30 minutes and there was no one else but me. So I got up and asked where the instructor was. The clueless folks at Michaels had no clue. So they called and left her a message I waited a bit longer then the store manager (who by the way saw me sitting in the classroom all that time) said well I can't have u sitting here wasting your time. Just go To The front desk to reschedule.

So i go to the cashier to reschedule and she said to (after looking in the binder) the next class does not start until next month. I am are you kidding me? We missed A night so we have To wait until next month? Why not just make the night up? Well we have other classes scheduled. So I asked her To Get The manager to the front area and i asked him why we can't make up the night. So he said well that Might be a possibility. We will call you and let you know. Two days go by and no call so I called and Asked To speak to the instructor That was on That night and I explained what happened. She said to me oh yes i heard about that. Your instructor will be giving a make up lesson next week. So I thought to myself, "How nice of them to call and let me know."

Well this morning (Sunday) I am still in bed sleeping My phone rings. And I answered in My half awake half asleep voice. It Was the Wilton instructor sounding rather chipper. She said oh hi and gave her name then said to me Yes i was away on vacation. At which point I was a tad pissed off and told her I was sleeping and call ME back in an hour.

Ok, so She Calls me back then said to me. I was away on vacation And there Was a note in the binder stating That fact. The Michaels employees should have known that. She then went on to tell me that she called the other lady That's taking the course to inform her that she was going on vacation and the course would be starting a week later. In addition to that, she said well I spoke to the other lady And we decided to have our make up class on Monday. Is That going to be ok for you? Will you be able to make it? Stupid me said yes. I should have told her no that Monday is not good for me.

I thought it was EXTREMELY unprofessional to be taking vacation at A time when classes are scheduled to be starting. Even worse, not contacting me to let me know that there would be no class on the 1st day. I felt that it Was her responsiblity as the instructor to do that. Then on top of it all making decisions with the other person and not contacting me to let me know what Was going on.

As for the staff at Michaels if in fact they had the information that she Was going to be away. They should have also contacted the students to make sure there were informed that there would be no class the 1st week. No, I wasted gas driving there. I wasted my time going there And waiting. Then To find out they were clueless.

All in all, It reflects poorly on both Wilton AND Michaels. I have class Monday to make up and then on Tuesday. I will let you guys know how it goes.


Princess

P.S. Excuse any typos LOL
P.S.S I had To come back and edit after looking @ some of the typos

Wow... I'm amazed at some of these stories... I taught Wilton for two years and I made it a priority to communicate with the students... I would call all my students the night before class to remind them of the class time and what to bring. I also called when I had to cancel a class.. I agree Wilton should probably screen their instructors better.





Not all Wilton instructors are unprofessional and incompetent... I was lucky enough to have some awesome instructors.. Not everyone can afford culinary school just to learn cake decorating. Wilton is a great way for someone to get the basics of cake decorating without spending a fortune... After I took all three courses I found other classes where I learned more advanced skills... I think I've done pretty good without a culinary degree..

I personally had a GREAT time in all 3 of my Wilton classes at Hobby Lobby. My instructor was great - not "very unprofessional and incompetent". The most I paid for a course was $15. A FAR FAR cry from tuition at ANY culinary school. And while it's no "reputable, prestigious cooking school", it taught me what I expected to learn - which was how to decorate a cake. I did not sign up for the classes expecting to be the next big thing in cake decorating immediately after Course 3.

I'm proud of what I accomplished in my classes. Just as I am sure that you are proud of what you accomplished at your culinary school. It's great that you could afford it and were able to attend. I'm guesing that gives you an excuse to belittle those who cannot.

Sort of the same kind of thing....
Actually, my only issue was with my Course 1 instructor, who chastised me because my mom had given me some of her old cake decorating items, and had found some "new" at yard sales...etc. At any rate, the instructor chastised me because 4 of the tips I showed up with were Atecco. I was told it was unacceptable and I was denied used of them. Same thing with the cake panes. ONLY WILTON. Or they were not to be used.

Luckily my best friend who I dragged into taking the first course with me, talked me in to taking the 2nd and there was a completely different instructor. She was kind, and patient and supportive to the point where I have started taking orders for cakes and next weekend I begin my certification by the health department locally....I am very excited.

i took the classes at michaels a long time ago... but when i was in culinary school at the junior college near me i took the cake decorating course.... it was through wilton... it was a 3 month course 2 days a week for 3 hours a day.... you learned everything!!! .. and it was only $250 compared to the wilton course at the wilton school which is 2 weeks long and about triple the price!

Well, I took my first class at Michaels and am VERY impressed. My instructor is awesome. I can not wait to get started, and take more classes too!

So although the cashiers may be a little flighty, so far I'm totally happy!

i am so sorry that some of your experiences werent as wonderful as mine! my micheals store is great but my instructor is out of this world wonderful!!!!!! so is so kind and patient and willing to teach me everything she knows, i feel so lucky to be her student!! she tells me the dos and donts of owning a cake business and all kinds of stuff she learned from experience while she had her cake business.
if your experience is not so good, please overlook all that and get your self a cake education anyway!
melody