I also have struggled with shops cutting fabric recently. I think it depends on the person cutting the fabric,and whether or not they are quilters. My local quilt shop, here in the UK, Midsomer Quilting is owned and run by a lovely lady who has a passion for quilting and her cutting is always straight and very generous making sure that you get more than the amount you need, however other stores are notoriously bad, not just department stores, but dedicated fabric shops...they just don't seem to understand the importance of looking at the fabric before cutting it and then making sure it is straight.....with fabric now costing upto $20 (£14) /yard or meter ....I want it to be correct.