Yesterday my nightmare came true! I was delivering a 3 tier cake to a client who was giving her husband a big birthday party, and just as I was opening the back of my trunk to take the cake out I realized the cake collapsed!!!!! I was horrified. This has never happened to me before. I feel so bad because not only did I ruin the clients party, but I feel like I ruined my reputation. I have worked so hard at building a cake business and I am now doubting myself big time! I gave the client a refund...and thank goodness the client was really sweet about it but I feel really bad about this... I will never use wooden dowels again!!!

I have learned this the hard way as well. I only use bubble tea straws now. The good thing that your client was nice about it!

Let's talk about SPS. Your cake will NOT collapse. Remember the general cause of a collapse is the dowel or straw shifting off perfectly vertical. With SPS the legs can't shift. Impossible. They're attached to the plate.

Can someone tell me what SPS is or post a link?

I agree with Leah and q2 wheels--SPS is the only thing to use!

Those of you who use SPS - do you use it on all your stacked cakes as well, and if so, then do you require the customer to return your plates after the event? I've been considering getting those for doweled cakes, but not even considered it for stacked.

I agree, SPS all the way!!! And I have never looked back!

I had bubble tea straws collapse on me when a 4 tier cake shifted the tiniest bit while in transit. Never again!

What do you mean when you talk about a doweled cake versus a stacked cake? They're the same thing.

Yes, I use SPS for every cake, every style, every time. It works for everything. Sometimes I use 4" legs, sometimes 7" legs.

You're right -- I meant "pillared" versus stacked.
I haven't used plates on stacked cakes because I don't always get exactly 4 inch tiers. Sometimes a bit more (which I could trim down, I suppose) but usually just a bit under 4 inches. So I haven't even considered using a plating system unless it's pillared...