Many years ago I frequented a local chain store and the lady who cut fabric said they had "secret" shopping happening all of the time on any goods that could be subject to inaccuracies on the part of an employee. She lived in fear it would be someone who shopped regularly. Appartently that had happened. Anyway the point is she (and everyone in the fabric department) did not give a 1/4" more. Sometimes you got home short because of using scissors and the fabric not being square.
With the economy as it is, many people are in fear for their jobs...others just don't know...then there are those who simply don't care.