Usually, if there is less than a yard on the bolt, the clerk is suppose to offer you the piece for 50% OFF the already discounted price. That saves them from process of making the leftover fabric into a remnant. I do sometimes find myself searching for those almost empty bolts.
Just be careful of the lower price cotton fabric because some of it including a small black & white check is not the quality that should be made into a quilt. Their premium fabric line are as good as LQS fabric. But remember, Walmart and JAF sell a lot of second quality fabric thru a fabric broker. That is why you don't see the fabric on the original manufacture's bolt. Most of the time, there just might be a miss print near the salvage or something similar in the printing process. I worked for House of Fabric part-time (number of years) JUST to get the sweet 25% employee discount. Also helped an owner of an independent fabric store and I learned most of what I know about the fabric industry from her.
And I do buy fabric from JAF. I prefer buying it from the store so I check the quality of the fabric. Just have to remember to get a ticket from the cutting table before I finsih looking at the fabrics!! Loved their 60% off notion sale with free shipping. That broke MY bank !!