Any experience with slime?

[paintedpanda]

We bought new bikes for my children a few weeks ago and got the slime filled tyres as an add on because, well… they’re kids and cycle through crap they’re not meant to…
Anyway, two days ago DD phoned and said that her bike tyre was completely flat and she was walking home with it. I told her we’d paid for the slime and to pump it up when she got home and spin it to try and fill the hole (which is what I read online). She tried and it remained flat.
I’ve got her tyre off now to fix the puncture and it doesn’t feel any different to a normal inner tube. I’d have expected some kind of liquid filled feeling. I’ve found the puncture and I was expecting some gunk coming out of it, but nothing.
Have I been scammed? Is this what slime is meant to be like? Or have I paid for it and they’ve not put it in.
We bought the bikes from Halfords so not somewhere I’d expect to be questioning this!

Slime isn't perfect, but the usual issue is it not quite sealing, or messing up the valve. Doesn't sound like there is any slime in there.

I'd expect inconsistency from Halfords unfortunately. They do some quite good bike stuff, but the staff can be hit or miss depending on the branch.

Pretty much agree with @myopinionis

Its good for smaller punctures and often you won't feel it in the inner tube. You should see a small wet patch, or trickle of green around the puncture, even if its tiny as some fluid will leak out before it's repaired itself.

Halfords staff are generally speaking lazy and/or clueless at best.

I tend to buy the slime and put it in the inner tube myself. Its a very simple job.

I have these slime tyres on our MTBs - they work pretty well but sometimes big thorns will prove too much. The goo comes out the holes which helps find where a puncture is. It does not sound like yours are fit for purpose.

amzn.eu/d/0iuRzLPl

I've not tried slime, but switching to Schwable Marathon tyres (which are kevlar lined) has pretty much eliminated punctures for me - I used to get several each year (I cycle a lot, and never deliberately through glass). If punctures continue to be a problem, especially if she relies on the bike (e.g. to get to school) then I'd change the tyres.

Thanks all. I repaired two punctures yesterday morning where the thorn has obviously gone right through the inner tube and no green goo or any indication of slime at all. I nipped into Halfords yesterday and when I told the guy at the counter he rolled his eyes as though to say “yes, we have some idiots working for us” so I’m guessing this has happened before. We’re taking it in on Sunday as there are a few issues anyway so he will do the slime then.