If they don't make enough money at the fabrics then they will wait you for a while. In my opinion 7 minutes is not very long. Where I live sometimes you have to wait longer. If I don't have any more patient I go find a clerk by myself.
I also have family in Greece, there you have to wait sometimes even longer, it depends on the store you are in.
But I totally agree that waiting in a store is very annoying. I don't want to spend my money there and also waiting before I can spend it.
Doglover, I love it that you call them by phone! :))