you obviously got someone new...the rule is....you can purchase the fabric at 40% off but they have to write the ticket up showing the original price before the 30% mark off and then they will take off 40% at the cash register. This is done on a regular basis at the store in Alabama where I worked for 4 years in the fabric department...UNLESS. THIS IS A STORE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW IT....possibly other stores make their own rules...the manager usually has the final say so I would call him/her into the department the next time I shopped there.