NBC 4 Tests The PedEgg

The following is an exact transcript of NBC 4's story exactly as it appeared on NBC 4 at 6 p.m. Feb. 22, 2010.

Anchor: Even though spring seems weeks and weeks away, some of us long for the sunny days, flip flops and a great pedicure.

The PedEgg promises to get your feet ready for the pool and backyard barbecues. But does it work?

Consumer reporter Mikaela Hunt went to the experts to take it on a test drive.

Hunt: We dropped in Salon Lofts in German Village and handed over the goods. We know the folks over there because they advertise with us and style the hair of some of our anchors.

The PedEgg is almost a household name, promising to gently remove callous, dry skin.

Erika Taylor's been making feet look fancy for 18 years.

Taylor: "It says it's like having a professional spa treatment right in your own home.

Hunt (to Taylor): "What do you think about that?"

Taylor: "I'm skeptical. Spa treatments are a tough act to follow!"

Hunt: For our test, we will use a brand new PedEgg on one of her clients feet. On the other foot, Taylor will treat calluses like she normally does: with a special glycolic treatment.

The PedEgg works on dry feet. The Glycolic works in a wet environment.

Taylor: "She's definitely got callus across the pad. She's definitely got callus down here."

Hunt: The client hasn't had a pedicure in more than a year.

The PedEgg gets to work with a blade that looks like a cheese grater. It promises to collect all dry skin shavings in a storage area, but…

Taylor: "That might be in your bathroom. Not pretty."

Hunt: Taylor's initial thoughts: it's a good tool for pedicure maintenance.

Taylor: "I don't think this is all bad. I think it's a great thing to keep people's feet in shape -- especially in this economy."

Hunt: Taylor admits the PedEgg did break up some of the dry skin, but can it measure up to the callus removal through her signature pedicure?

After removing the bag and wiping down the foot, it's time to file.

Taylor: "I'm only going to do this as much as I did the PedEgg -- to be fair."

Hunt: But once she finishes the process, she sees the difference. Take a look at the PedEgg treatment.

Taylor: "She's definitely has calluses here -- this callus here. I'm not sure if the PedEgg didn't take it too thin here where that red mark is."

Hunt: And then, take a look at the foot Taylor treated with her supplies.

Taylor: "The foot -- she still has this callus. But one more pedicure, it would be completely smooth."

Hunt: Taylor's final take:

Taylor: "I would not use or sell this in my salon or spa. At the end of our pedicures, we send our clients home with this."

Hunt: And she says that file works just as well, if not better, than this egg. Mikaela Hunt, NBC 4.

Anchor: "When you crunch the numbers, is the cost of PedEgg better than a monthly pedicure?

The PedEgg costs $9.99. But three replacement blades cost $11.99. A pedicure could cost between $45 and $65 -- if you had one every four weeks.