I wonder if this is a regional thing. I've gone to A LOT of quilting stores in Washington, probably nearly all of them in Western Washington, and quite a few in Oregon, and I've only been to one that tears. Frankly, I was stunned and I didn't like it at all.
The next time I went to that shop, quite a distance from home, the batiks were on sale. I picked a large number of bolts, had hubby also carry a large number of bolts, put them on the counter and requested that they cut the fabric rather than tear it. They said they "could not" cut it, so I let them keep it. :shock: I was so annoyed we went to the shop two blocks down (the only other fabric shop in town) and bought A LOT of fabric which they were happy to cut.