it is always a good idea to pay attention- and not let the sales person( person cutting) to be visiting---not payin attention when having product cut-
it's not just joannes=
i've been at lqs' when the clerk was talking away- (chit=chatting) while measuring/cutting to find you only get 2 yards when you asked for 3= or to get 3/4 of a yard when you asked for 1 1/2.
i used to wander away and look at other items while my stack of fabrics were being cut- only to find i did not get any cuts i asked for- even when i had 5 bolts and said-i'd like one yard of each----to me that should be easy---only to find i got anything from 1/2 yard to 1 1/4 yards- she was busy chatting with a different customer while cutting my fabric---now i stand there-and watch the measuring- and even question it before they cut if i don't think it's lined up right - and i watch to see what the fabric looks like as it is being rolled off the bolt- i've seen (at joannes) fabric that is in 2 pieces- put together with a wide zigzag- and the sales person was going to just give me my piece with that (seam) down a section of my cut---i tell them-no i don't want that= please start over beyond the seam....most of the time they will automatically- but once in a while- they don't even seem to see it/pay any attention to it- unless it is brought to their attention.