I think Waterloo is a pretty blah record store actually, or at least for my needs Tower is a better store: better location, better selection, very helpful jazz buyer. I've never spent the time and dollars at Waterloo that I have at Tower. Partly because Waterloo has that truly annoying procedure---that they seem to pride themselves on---of not having sections in their new cds, just listing nearly everything alphabetically by artist. Not fun for me to shop that way! And I'm usually disappointed at what I don't find there.
Cornerstone of the music scene? Maybe. . . probably not though in my opinion. I've been in the music scene here, marginally, for a time and Waterloo didn't make any difference as far as I could see, but hey, maybe. Tower has instores too.
Tower opened TWELVE years ago. Tower the chain is on the ropes, not becasue of Waterloo. Also, I have seen Tower take back any cd pretty much for any reason. Company policy may not be explicitly such, but actual store practice is.
Anyway, that's neither here nor there. Take The Prisoner back and get something else! If you already know it is not something you like, so be it. Get somethin' greezy! B)