salad tongs
I agree that they don't work very well. The upward force required is such that it is hard to maintain a level extraction and usually one end of the chip will pull out before the other ending up with bent pins as the chip pops in one quick motion rather then a smooth controlled extraction.
While it can take a little longer, but using a small blade alternately at each chip end is much more gentle on the chip package and pins.
Lefty