Battling for the better deal

In 1998, when students needed microwaves, mini-fridges or new computers they could just go down to Circuit City and pick one out. \nBut just when consumers thought all their electronic needs were satisfied by Bloomington's Circuit City, Best Buy opened right across the intersection of Routes 45 and 46 in November 2003.\n"It's not an unusual situation," Circuit City corporate spokesman Steve Mullen said. "We have a number of stores across from or near Best Buys across the country."\nMullen believes customers will stay loyal despite Best Buy's opening.\n"We have our customers and they know who we are," he said. "They'll probably check out the new store, but we're confident they'll come back."\nIt is Best Buy's policy not to comment on its competitors, but corporate spokeswoman Erin McMillan pointed out several services unique to Best Buy.\n"We offer a broad and deep assortment of everything from complete solutions making it easy to enjoy a digital lifestyle with products such as software, CDs, DVDs, mobile phones, laptop/desktop computers, \nhigh-end flatscreen TVs and wireless home networking," she said. "Best Buy is a 'Smart Friend' to consumers and the stores offer an enjoyable and easy place to shop. We offer interactive displays where customers can try out and play with products before buying them to ensure the technology will complement their lifestyles and the technology they currently own."\nMullen said its customer service sets Circuit City apart.\n"I'd say our customer support makes us unique," he said. "We have the best trained staff around."\nStill, some IU students prefer shopping at Best Buy instead of Circuit City.\n"Best Buy just has more stuff than Circuit City," freshman Robert Zendejas said. "They have more TVs, video games, music and computer stuff. You go to Circuit City and they just don't have the same stuff."\nFreshman Blake Roebuck agrees with Zendejas.\n"There's mostly everything at Best Buy," Roebuck said. "There's a bigger selection of home entertainment stuff, plus computer furniture and things like that. You name it, they have it. Plus, if you find something cheaper you can take it back."\nBest Buy will take back many items without a receipt, but Zendejas prefers the Circuit City refund policy that allows an item purchased there to be returned for more than a full refund if it is found cheaper anywhere else within 30 days of purchase.\n"I love that you can return something at Circuit City if you find it cheaper somewhere and they'll give you 110 percent of the price back," Zendejas said. "You don't even need an excuse to return it."\nZendejas also confirmed Mullen's comment about Circuit City's staff.\n"Circuit City is friendlier," he said. "Their return policy seems quicker, even when there are crowds. Once my sister had a CD player that didn't work real well. We took it back, but they didn't have that model, so they upgraded it for one that was better."\n-- Contact senior writer Chris Freiberg at wfreiber@indiana.edu.