it is my understanding that Wilton products are horrendous.   They seem to have really lived up to their Cake Central reputation with me this evening…

Their 12 oz candy melts are now 10 oz packages AND the price has gone up.  I did not notice this in the store, I noticed when I came home and needed the 12 oz package. 

That kind of cutting corners is not how one keeps existing customers.  I am done with Wilton forever.  Ateco and Merkins, here I come!   I have re-entered the corporate world and now only bake for charity and friends, however, I still need and recommend supplies, and I still bake.

Way to go Wilton….Way to go…As in, away from my cake supplies cupboard forever.

AW really isn't professional quality. It's made for entry level decorators, or moms who make a couple of birthday cakes a year. For that market it's OK.

Leah, I agree about it being okay for mothers and hobbyists    However, it is not okay, in any market, entry level or not, to shave off a few ounces, raise your prices and then think no one noticed or would care.    They get an F for doing that.

Wilton did not have a profitable 2014 so they are cutting corners.

 I think they over-did their product line….way too many  plastic gadgets to make people think they can make a "professional-looking" cake, when in reality, the real professionals don't use too many gadget.

When walk into AC Moore and Michaels, I'm inundated immediately by Wilton with "cake stuff this and cakes stuff that…" it's a bit much.

I agree wilton is crap...buuuut for candy clay those melts actually work the best (in my opinion) so this is saddening news. Soon they'll be 25 cents a wafer!! :-(

I use Wilton more than anything but only because it's basically the only brand available in my area. Any time I'm out of town near another cake supply store I try to buy what I can but unfortunately they don't offer a whole lot more. I absolutely hate candy melts though. They have never worked for me the way many people say have for them. I do agree with FioreCakes and use them to make candy clay but nothing else.

wilton started it all and they know how to survive -- i have a bit of a love/hate with them like i do with all of caking -- most every product and service has been thinned out, toned down and reduced in size with an obligatory hike in price in the past few years -- it is frustrating and it's just the way it is for now --

you used to get 8 ounces of baker's chocolate for about the same price it is now at the 4 ounce size -- seriously -- but as far as candy melts go -- i've used the grocery store brand almond bark candy melt stuff forever -- works great -- but the price on that is all blown up too -- whaddayah gonna do --

i feel yah though, nm

To be fair to Wilton, there is a supply issue. They don't have complete control over the price of chocolate. Even if it isn't the best quality, they are still affected by this:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-chocolate-prices-are-set-to-rise/

 

AWilton candy melts are not chocolate.

I'm still surprised that people use these! Why not temper real, quality chocolate and use that?

freedom of choice, cost, time, impatience, i don't like to wait for choclate to set up much less get to temper  -- i use the almond bark/candy from the grocery store --

why are people are so surprised that there is more than one way to do something 

AAw geez.

Don't take it so personally. If you really think candy melts are the best thing since sliced bread then that's fine.

Personal preference. I think candy melts are gross, thus I would never use them. I would never sell something I wouldn't want to eat, myself.

The high cost of fuel last year led to a rise in the cost of many food items. Haven't you noticed that a half gallon of ice cream is now 1.5 quarts now, and BC cake mix is now 15.25 oz instead of 16?  In other markets, it's hard to find a pair of leather shoes because so many vendors are using man made materials in order to reduce the costs. Manufacturers and retailers are trying to combat the higher cost of living while giving consumers the same price points. It's no vast conspiracy, just economics. 

Oh and in California the cost of an egg is about to double due to new legislation. 

I find this really surprising!  I haven't got a lot of experience with Wilton as they aren't stocked much in my local suppliers here in the UK but the one time i did make contact with them, I got the best customer service I have ever experienced.  I was really surprised (especially after reading such bad stuff about them on here).

As for candy melts, personally I think they taste gross but that's my personal opinion - some people I know love them.  Last time I used them, they were also really gloupy and wouldn't drip off my cake pops...duno why...must try again...

AI think wilton is fine.

I think my main issue was the reduction in the weight of the bag yet the increase in price…I was making candy clay and 2 oz makes a big difference in the in the consistency of that stuff.  I say increase the price but keep the size the same, otherwise, it's a bit sneaky.

As for prices, yes, they are going up, but the economy is on the mend.  Jobs are on the increase, here in Boston tech companies are begging for qualified employees, in all areas, from reception to marketing to programming.

Hotel rates are going up about 2.6% but airfare is going way down…flights are going to be crowded.

Wilton has been downsizing their candy melts for years. The special color packages that they come out periodically have always been 10oz.

If you have trouble melting other brands of the candy coating adding some shortening can help. I bought some from GSA or somewhere and it won't melt unless I add a ton of crisco to it.

And real chocolate is definitely better than candy melts.