I would try new batteries, see if you can borrow them from someone instead of buying new. Then if they go dead after 4 pictures you will know it's the camera. If they don't, it's the batteries and I would send them back thier refurb and ask for new batteries. And tell them to pay for the shipping.
BTW, if you tell the people at the store the camera was a gift, you should get extended return time. As long as you didn't do any harm to camera I would tell them that it was a birthday gift from the end of January.