I think the step you are missing is the step we ALL miss very often. In order to get the adhesive to bond, you need to let it dry for a good ten minutes or so (until it has almost lost its tackiness) before you apply the patch. This never feels right, as your instinct will be to apply the patch right away. Plus, we are always in a hurry to get back on the road! This is the reason many cyclists carry a spare tube and save patching for when they get home.

I use REMA patches. I have tried glueless patches in the past with lousy results. The glue patches do work if you use them correctly. Don't feel bad. We've all burned through a pack or two before finally getting it right!