By Dexter Gauntlett

Daily Bruin Reporter

Despite last week’s opening of Best Buy – the fifth chain technology store in Westwood – and a drop in the tech industry in general, the Associated Students of UCLA expects sales in Ackerman’s store to endure “minimum impact.”

According to retail director of operations Keith Schoen, ASUCLA has not seen a drop in the number of computers purchased, but the drop in retail computer prices in Ackerman is consistent with the technology sector as a whole.

Along with other major money makers such as emblematic apparel and textbooks, computers contribute 20 percent to overall retail sales. Though Best Buy carries such a diverse product line, they only compete with ASUCLA in computers, Schoen said.

“There are so many other competing stores already in business in Westwood, I think (Best Buy) will have a bigger impact on the neighborhood businesses rather than ASUCLA,” he said.

Many of Best Buy’s competitors such as Tower Records and Circuit City expect that upon the store’s opening, they will see a drop in sales but are confident things will return to normal. Other local competitors include the Wherehouse and Radio Shack.

The general manager for Bel-Air Camera, Frank Ponder, who also serves on the Westwood Business Improvement and Development Committee was actually excited about the opening. He said, “I think everyone’s looking forward to any business coming into Westwood.”

Despite Westwood’s recent sluggish economic past, he still believes that Westwood is on the rebound and said he noticed more students in some parts of Westwood than ever before, but noticed other places are rarely frequented by students.

“I think there’s kind of been a wall of some sort on Le Conte where faculty, students and staff feel like they can’t go to the other side of,” Ponder said.

Unlike Schoen, Ponder said that Best Buy, due to its proximity to campus, would be most problematic for ASUCLA and not for surrounding businesses.

Gary Harris, manager for inventory and loss prevention at the new Best Buy said that he has been pleased with student response in the store’s first week.

Harris said it is difficult to tell how the store will affect ASUCLA. However, he said that historically, Best Buy’s have coexisted near universities.

ASUCLA is a nonprofit organization that includes all of the on-campus convenience and book stores along with franchise food services. Proceeds from those services go to the Student Union and other student programs. Funds are also used to maintain building infrastructure and pay ASUCLA businesses employee salaries in addition to medical benefits.

According to Jerry Mann, Student Union director, computer mark-up ran at 10.3 percent and was responsible for $11.063 million in retail sales last year.