I discovered the Beater Blade several weeks ago and purchased one immediately. Anyone who has ever worked with a standing mixer knows that their one fatal flaw is the fact that the paddle does not scrape the bowl. This forces the cook to repeatedly stop the mixer and scrape down the bowl, which seriously impacts the efficiency of the process. The usual fix is to hold the bowl slightly up and out it's proper spot so that the blade gets a closer shave, so to speak. Unfortunately this is not good for the beater, the bowl, or the cook. The Beater Blade is a simple and relatively inexpensive (under $30) solution.
I ordered mine from Amazon and when the package arrived it was greeted with a bit of skepticism from my partner in crime. The blade is plastic and at first glance seems rather flimsy when compared to the original metal paddle. The proof however is in the pudding, or in this case, in the cookie, cake and bread doughs. The Beater Blade held up beautifully, especially with our recent forays into brioche, and as baking season hits full swing, it has retired my original, extremely well worn, paddle. It is a beautiful thing. There are a variety of blades configured to different sizes and brands of standing mixers. If you like to bake, I suggest that you check one out. You won't remember what mixing was like without it and your rubber spatula will appreciate the break.