Since there are few laws governing gift returns, consumers are basically at the mercy of the store's return policies.

And sometimes, navigating those policies can strike fear in the heart of even the most seasoned shopper.

Barbara Hanley of Covington, near Kent, has a Christmas policy: No more than $50 gifts for her two grandkids.

So when she saw this Mio Pup toy at her local Wal-Mart for about $45 in late November, she bought it for 8-year-old Ashton.

She also got a gift receipt proving the purchase in case the toy went on sale.

So Hanley returned to the Wal-Mart store for a refund but was told she would be given the current sales price refund of $29.99, not her original price of nearly $45.

"I want the difference in the money, because I work hard for my money, too," said Hanley. "They didn’t treat me right."

Nearly 40 percent of Americans are expected to take back at least one gift after the holidays according to The National Retail Federation. If that percentage includes you this year, you could run into stricter return policies.

"Restocking fees are fairly common in large electronics stores, but we're seeing them in other places too. Sears, for example, has a 15 percent restocking fee for some appliances, tools and lawn and garden products," said Tobie Stanger of Consumer Reports.

Other large retailers have also tightened the reins on returns. Target limits returns without receipts to just two per year and only for items worth less than $20. And Lowe's, K-Mart, and Wal-Mart are among the retailers that now use computer systems to monitor how often customers return something without a sales slip.

"If you bring back too many items to a store without a receipt, within a small period of time, the retailer may not accept them. The reason is they're trying to reduce the amount of returns of stolen goods," said Stanger.

Usually, the best way to reduce hassles is to include a gift receipt with your gift.

"If you bring back a gift receipt, you're going to get the item's full price instead of the post-holiday sale price," Stanger said.

And when you get a gift, handle it with care. Damaged boxes, lost tags, or missing packaging make it less likely you'll get full value for a return.

If you have a return, you'll want to take it back as soon as possible, although many stores have longer return policies for things purchased during the holidays.

As for Barbara Hanley in Covington, we contacted Wal-Mart headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas and were told there must have been a misunderstanding at the Covington store.

Following our call, Hanley has been invited to return to the store for a full-price refund on her toy.