I also have bought a shitty breadboard before. It was really cheap on ebay. The power strips didn't connect all the way down; each set of 5 was independent. And it always strongly smelled like something toxic.
I know that the breadboards Radioshack sells are good; those are what I buy. I'm sure there are other good brands, for less money. Get a new breadboard, is my recommendation. You have to be able to trust it, when you're trying to test a circuit. I'm sure you know.
Oh, and also make sure you don't use wires that are too fat for the sockets, because you'll stretch them out. The breadboard packaging usually says it wants you to put in its holes. Yeah, I just said that. Mine says 22 awg.
The Radioshack boards are an aged plastic cream color. Classy.