Contacting the Manufacturer  

Hi Jenn..I find that digital cameras eat batteries..I always buy the ones that are made specifically for them. Even normal batteries of an expensive brand, just are no good. They last no time at all. So I buy the ones that are about $15 and say they are specifically for digital cameras and have a much longer life. Well, even the much longer, is not all that long but better then the others. I have bought some batteries that last only a couple pictures and thats it! I have also heard that certain brands are harder on batteries than others. I would find out about that from someone other than the dealer who wouldnt tell you.

I have contacted manufacturers when something isn't quite right with a product. Most have been most helpful. Too bad though that you no longer have the receipt for the camera. Even with the receipt some stores have a deadline for returns. Good luck with your problem. Keep us posted as to the outcome.

Could you just bring it back to the place that sold it to your parents, and have it exchanged?

I had a Nikon Coolpix for a while - about two years, and I didn't have any qualms with the battery life. Although it sucks that it runs off of AA batteries (do they still run this way?), whereas with Canon Powershot & other brands, they have a rechargable battery & charger that comes with it when you buy it (WAY more convenient than buying batteries over & over again). The only issue I had with my Nikon is that it took FOREVER to focus & take pictures. Literally about a minute per picture, and longer as time went by.

Good luck with getting it figured out!

Which coolpix do you have? My husband bought me the coolpix P80, before he purchased the camera for me I was reading the reviews for that one and the s60. I did read on some of the cameras that the battery died to quickly. (For both of them.) I, thankfully, have not had that problem. I hope you get your situation settled before your honeymoon.