SAN ANTONIO - It's no surprise that the day after Christmas and the days leading up to New Year's are some of the busiest times for holiday returns. However, something a little different experts are noticing is that the return policy itself can be a real make or break for shoppers these days.

According to a survey from the National Retail Foundation, three-fourths of holiday shoppers checked return policies before making a purchase, while 22 percent backed out of purchase because of bad return policy.

If you received a gift that you need to return or exchange, look closely at the store's website or the back of your receipt for the terms and conditions. Make sure you understand if, how long, and what's required from you before heading out to make a return, especially on high-ticket items like electronics.

San Antonio's Better Business Bureau's Regional Director Miguel Segura says since many times gifts were bought months in advance, it's best to not hold off on making an exchange or return. Also, she said, bring a form of ID with you when you hit the stores.

"We want to hold on and make sure we keep those receipts safe. Without any proof of purchase, many times the store will accept that item to be returned, but they're only going to be able to offer you store credit. If there's been any markdowns since that item was purchased, you may be stuck with a lower value than what was originally paid for," Segura said.

Segura also says you want to keep those receipts especially for pricey electronics. Most of the time the warranties and guarantees will be printed on those.

If someone purchased it for you, and you don't have the receipt, it can be very difficult to claim it.