I know some quilt shops cut and some tear their fabric and I'm told that tearing provides a straighter piece. Is there any problem with tearing?

i would not be happy at all if someone tore my fabric. but lots of places do it.
i cut my thumb with my rotary cutter because i was trying to trim strings off of a long strip of fabric i'd torn the length of fabric. but then, strings bother me!

There is a very recent thread on this topic. Lots of different opinions

Tearing does provide a straighter piece of fabric, but it may also weaken the fabric close to the edge.

One place tore my fabric but to go back and cut it as it was distorted :roll:

tearing your fabric makes a straight edge because the tear runs along the grainline of the fabric, usually after it is torn you then fold it in half salvage to salvage lining up the torn edge and trim it...you usually save alot of fabric doing it this way. i have bought cut fabric from the lqs that was as much as 3" off on one end; alot of waste squaring up my fabric, when the fabric is torn you only have to trim a sliver (like a 1/4") instead of inches. you have a straight edge to start with and less waste.

I don't like to have my fabric torn. It damages the fibers up to 2 inches from the torn edge. Even if the damage is not noticeable to the eye, it becomes apparent under a microscope. That's why I won't purchase quilting fabric from a shop that tears instead of cuts.

i don't like it when they tear my fabric. i'd prefer them to cut it. there is one quilt shop here where they never tear anything. they line it up on a mat and cut it with a rotary cutter just like i would at home. i like that much better and the edge is always straight. they also run the local quilt guild from their shop which i did not know, but on my most recent trip there they invited me to join their guild, which i thought was quite nice.

I just like mine cut. It's just me. Tearing it bothers me.

I've never had anyone tear my fabric at the store/shop...but I do tear some at home once-in-a-while. I like the sound of it tearing...my mom (deceased now) used to tear...it gives me warm feelings in my heart to hear that sound.