The idea behind CAT is a worthy one--they allow people to fix up bikes at a well-equipped shop for a nominal fee, offer classes in bike maintenance, and sell cheap used parts. The implementation of that idea is rather poor; as the smug "appropriate" in the name might suggest, this shop is staffed largely by hipster bike-snobs who are not at all concerned at helping customers in a timely manner. They will spend some time with you once they get around to it, but even then they only seem to condescend to speak with their lowly, amateur customers. I suspect that regulars are probably treated better--if you enjoy the cliquish, "insider-club" vibe, you might fit right in here; I don't consider myself exceptionally sensitive to it (one couldn't live in Eugene with such a sensitivity), but this place takes it to an intolerable degree.
I could probably get over the service issues here, but the last straw for this shop was when I discovered their return policy, or rather their utter lack of one. I fully understand that they can't accept returns on used parts; however, I bought a brand new bike rack from them that, once I got it home, I realized wouldn't work with my panniers. I bought the rack only after first looking on their website and seeing that they listed a standard return policy: "Items must be in new (salable) condition, with hang-tag still attached." I had not removed any tags or opened any of the accompanying bags--it remained in precisely the same condition as when I bought it. But when I asked to exchange it (note: I did not even seek a return), the clerk imperiously pointed to a sign on the desk that said no returns whatsoever. Supposedly, the return policy on their website only applies to items purchased on their website; if you go into the store and purchase the exact same item from the exact same people, the return policy evaporates for some inscrutable reason. I've never heard of such a policy at any bike shop; there are enough tricky compatibility issue with bike parts that sometimes they just need to get returned and exchanged for something that works. Such a policy cuts against the store's entire mission of empowering people to work on their own bikes.
So the moral of my experience: go to another shop for new parts; take the classes if you admire or aspire yourself to become a snobby hipster; when you want to buy used parts, get a long grocery list of everything you need so that you'll only have to visit once--you'll be waiting for a while. read more