IR remote....if yours isn't working predictably

I ordered an IR remote from ebay.  The one with all the extra controls on it.  It came with two batteries and it worked just OK when I got it.  I noticed that it was unpredictable though.  Sometimes it wouldn't fire, sometimes it would work from a distance, sometimes not.

I took a chance and put a fresh name brand battery in it.  Changed it completely.  I can bounce it off walls and windows from across the room now to get at the sensor on the camera.

Made a huge diff.