Most quilt shops have a fabric agent from the manufacturer they buy from so the fabric is the best quality. I have known of some quilt shop owners to buy the cheaper fabric from a distributor and mix it in with the quality fabric. You have to know what qualities to look for when buying fabric no matter where you buy it. Usually the non quilt shop fabric is called craft fabric like the $2 fabric Walmart use to sell. Once you have the feel of good fabric you'll know when it's a good buy.