AGM Leisure battery 110AH arrived flat

I just bought 2 AGM 110AH leisure batteries

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...0641&rd=1&rd=1

They just got here and they are both completely flat,

The dealer said that was normal and i should trickle charge them for
24 hours,

He said they had been on the shelf for 8 months,

Shouldnt he have been charging them during that time ?
Shouldnt they be kept in storage at 50 per cent charge ?

Any feedback greatly appreciated.