I assume NiMHs? Were they low self dicharge (LSD)? Sometimes a deal is not a deal, but that does not mean all is lost. I've run a lot of cheap NiMHs with acceptable results (relative to the cost).

I think we've discussed this before. Could be a poor forming charge, could be a long time in storage, could be one cell that isn't charging and dragging the performance of the others down.

The best solution is a diagnostic charger. The low-tech solution is charge them hard, burn them way down, and repeat several times. NiMHs need to be worked hard on occasion to take and keep a full charge.