I want to ask for some advice...
I am a newbie in this exciting cake decorating world. I am taking a Wilton I class. I have purchased several tools for my sessions.
I know that they are selling a 101 tool caddy...
My question is since I feel that you can give me a great input...
Do you think it is necessary to purchase this caddy or better buy an empty one and start filling it out with the tools I am using or buying.
I was cheking the content of that caddy and I already bought many of the tools that are included in it.
Do you think it is still worth the purchase????
Thank you so much in advance.
I simply purchased a jumbo fishing tackle box to use for my tools. Since I, too, had already purchased quite a bit, it didn't make sense to buy one equipped with duplicates. Besides, when you can catch good sales on your equipment, it makes more sense to buy what you NEED, not necessarily the "pre-stocked" kits that come with many items you might not use. Just my opinion!
I would suggest buying a plain old tool caddy instead. Then, you can fill it with the things you really want, instead of maybe some things in Wilton's prefilled caddy that you'll never use. That's what I did!
Welcome to CC! You're going to love it here! 
I, too, have a lot of the tips, bags, etc. and bought a $4.98 clear tool caddy at Michael's with a blue top that has a handle that snaps down tight. I really like it even though for my first class I still had to take a bag for my boards, etc. Now that I'm in the middle of Wilton I, all I need is the tool caddy since we bring the cakes already frosted. Even my cake carrier is one that 'snaps' up the sides of the carrier top. When I'm juggling a cake plus the tool caddy, I want to make sure the bottom doesn't fall out on me. Michaels may have a larger one, but once I took out the Merangue powder, etc., I have plenty of room for everything. Plus, if you use the coupon, it's like $3.oo. Can't beat that!
If you are planning to take all wilton courses and if you are going to love cake decorating and If you have a 40% discount for Michaels I will say but it.
I wish I 've bought that thing at the beginning with the coupon but I never thought I will get addicted to cake decorating. I've been buying stuff separately and if I do some numbers I guess I made the wrong decision.
Hi
I bought the large pre-filled caddy with a 40 percent off coupon. I had already purchased the kits required for Wilton I and II (as well as several other tools), so some things were duplicated, but I have used everything that came in the caddy, and then some. I think it was the best value for me, although I probably would have gone with a large tackle box if I had to pay full price for it.
That you so much for the advice!
And... thank you so much Cakebyjess for such a warm welcome... You are right ... I love to be logged in !
If you plan on doing course II and III see what is in the kits and if everything else is in the tool caddy use a coupon for 40% off and buy the caddy then you don't have to buy the kits for the courses. If there isn't all you need then just buy the tool caddy and make sure you use your coupon for that too.
i feel also that you should not since you have alot of the things already. i have bought the 101 kit and i don't even use half of the things in it and the things i find that i need were not in the box. and also since your takeing the wilton classes they are going to ask you to buy the kit which are already in the box and then you'll have more double things so don't. i would only say yes if you did not have anything yet then it would be good...
and also welcome too CC.
shaddi
My goodness... everyone is mentioning a 40% discount coupon... Is a Wilton student entitled to receive one?
My classmates and I have just received 10% on everything we buy at the store... so is that going to be handed in at the end of the course?
I read in one post here at CC that instructors get the 40% for sure.
Could you please clarify that for me?
Thanks!
I agree too... I bought the empty one with my 40% coupon when I started cake decorating, you will be buying the tools as you need them, and the 101 kit comes with lots of stuff you might never use. OR buy a regular tool box, that works great! Good luck
Thanks Shaddi for your advice and warm welcome.
I bought that kit and was really happy with it. I had only bought a few things so it was a big help. I am finding now I need doubles of a lot of tips (makes things so much easier for me) so I have been purchasing those as I go. I bought the kit off ebay and got a great deal. The lid was broken though and I called Wilton to buy a replacement lid and they sent me a brand new caddy no charge as they couldn't just send me a lid. I was really surprised and the lady I spoke to from Wilton was really very nice about it.
I never receive a weekly ad... mmmm I am in Southern California... I will check if they have the coupon in the online weekly ad.
Thanks Nenufares...
I am so impressed with all of you... You guys are great in helping the newbies like me.
I use a tool box, my hubby was getting rid of one and it actually is perfect. It holda ALL my decorating things! By course III everyone alse had 2-3 bags and their Wilton box and I only had my cake and 1 box! It is not real pretty but the top has two snap up compartments (perfect for colors) and the center lifts out to hold larger things!
I never receive a weekly ad... mmmm I am in Southern California... I will check if they have the coupon in the online weekly ad.
Thanks Nenufares...
I am so impressed with all of you... You guys are great in helping the newbies like me.
I know here if you tell them you don't get an ad they will give you a discount and ask you to sign a paper you should check with them.
I have heard that you can tell the cashier at Michaels that you didn't receive your 40% off coupon and they have one there they can scan for you. Worth a try (as long as you know they had one).
I guess the real question is, do you want duplicates of the things that are in the caddy. When I took course 1, I knew after the second class I was going to want to do all the courses. I used the coupon and bought it because there were things in it that I already wanted like the cake leveler, baking strips, large bag and icer tip. Plus it gave me a head start on the featherweight bags which are my favorite and it had spatulas I wanted. If you're using the coupon it's a great value! But, if you already have things like the leveler and icer tip and strips, you probably don't want doubles of them.
As far as how handy the caddy itself is well, I'm kind of inbetween on that. I do really like the tip holder in it. I keep the tips I use most often in there. It easily held everything I needed for class except for larger items. For classes I always had my caddy, a medium size tote bag and my cake and that's it.
But then you come to after classes and how handy is it having something you can carry places versus something you'll use at home. For home use, I'd rather have a tackle box or some other organization that holds ALL my tips, ALL my colors, ALL my bags and stuff like that in one place.
Hobby lobby has a 40% off one item coupon online this week also. Its not as good as last weeks wilton coupon but its still something. Does anyone know how often the wilton coupon comes out?
I just finished course I. I thought about the filled caddy but decided on gathering my own things. I like to customize, besides I thought the filled caddy was definetly not worth the full price (over $100.00) and only barely worth it with a coupon. Those 101 items include disposable and parchment bags and a lot of $1.00 or so items. Just my opinion.
I never receive a weekly ad... mmmm I am in Southern California... I will check if they have the coupon in the online weekly ad.
Thanks Nenufares...
I am so impressed with all of you... You guys are great in helping the newbies like me.
Michaels will not always take online coupons, however they do accept competitor coupons, so if you have AC Moore or RAg shop, they will accept these also.
I purchased the Wilton empty caddy, it was about $20, but I used my 40% coupon, I like it alot because it has space for my tips and gels as well as bags, couplers etc.
If you have many things that already come in the box and having doubles of them wouldn't really be a good thing (how many times do you need two cake levelers?) then buy the empty one or as suggested another type of box and feel it with things you want.
If you wouldn't mind having a few doubles of things (such as the tips and spatulas) and don't have some of the other stuff, then it wouldn't hurt to buy the 101 piece tool box.
As far as the comment about how much product is in the box. If you were to buy everything seperately, including an empty tool box you would spend $170 dollars. So the $130 box is saving you money (if it is the way you want to go and you would end up buying most things in it). Using a coupon you usually get it around $80. Yes the tips and couplers may be $1 items, but you put enough together and they add up to bigger bucks.
Here's this week's Hobby Lobby 40% coupon.
http://www.hobbylobby.com/site3/weekly/weekly.cfm
You can sign up for their weekly ad via the internet and you'll automatically get them.
Thank you, Steady2Hands... however... there is no Hobby Lobby in California... I checked on the internet already....
On the other hand, I want to thank everyone for your posts. I will make up my mind soon to get organized with all my tools.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%