Now that Christmas is over, retailers are getting ready for another big rush. Shoppers hit the stores Tuesday — some looking for post-holiday deals and discounts, others wanting to return those Christmas gifts that didn't quite work. Experts say shoppers may have more to spend this year.

"Everything's on sale," said Brenda Adams. She's in the market for a deal. "I bought six calendars -- all half off," added Adams. This time of year, it's hard to pass up.

"We're using good old American cash that we got for Christmas," said Adams.

"We're coming to get the items that we needed that we didn't get for Christmas," said Elizabeth Standley, a shopper.

"We're shopping, returning things and shopping and getting more things, spending more money," said Lisa Wilson, a shopper.

Experts say this year, shoppers spent a record amount of money on gift cards, and now, retailers are cashing in on it, offering sales and 50-percent discounts.

"We're trying to catch the after-Christmas sales," said Standley.

"We returned some gifts that didn't fit and then we've also used gift cards," said Wilson.

Those who weren't buying were trading gifts in or returning them altogether.

"Either we got two of the same things and we're going to return those for other items -- or wrong sizes," said Standley.

Shoppers at Best Buy had to wait in line.

"It was an HP docking station, which my husband does a lot of work with his laptop, and this way he can just come in and plop the laptop in. He has an HP so I thought it would work but it doesn't work with his model so it's got to go back," said Mary Wright.

"It's mostly just going to be little things that need to be a little bit more tailored to the end user, so an IPOD could be exchanged -- a 2 gig for a 4 gig, something like that," said Eddie de Arrigunaga.

Retailers say you can spend less time waiting in lines like this one if you check each store's return policy beforehand. You should also bring a receipt or gift receipt if you can.

"Beyond that, it goes to more specific category type requirements in terms of consumer electronics needing all the packaging, all the accessories, clothing -- making sure that the tags are still on it -- things like that," said Paul Trulove, a retail practice returns manager for Newgistics.

It may be the only way to be sure that everyone gets exactly what they wanted.