Aren't we lucky to have knowledgeable folks to pop in with reasons & explanations! Way to go Jeanelle! (Thanks!)

My Lqs never cut fat quarters, she would cut anything from the bolt straight quarters,but never fat quarters already precut or make a fat. She said she doesn't have the room for them and it wastes alot from the bolt. She is only cutting yds, for vending at the quilt shows.

Do you mean they won't cut them "on demand" while you wait? I think that's probably quite normal, or at least it is for all the other shops in NH that I go to. KQ does sell them at the store so they obviously still cut them at their own time.

I've never asked for a custom cut fat quarter. I usually just get 1/2 yard. I love scrappy quilts and don't have a lot of small scraps so it gives me more fabric for future projects on my list.

My LQS will cut me a fat quarter if they don't already have one cut and in stock. The least amount they will cut is 0.10 of a metre (about 4 inches).

At my LQS I was told that they will cut down to a 2 and 1/2 in strip wof but thney dont cut fat quarters on demand

My LQS offers to cut fat quarters from any bolt of fabric.

I rarely buy FQ's at my LQS. They charge $A6 - $A8 EACH! I now but on line from the US.

Well, then I'd just ask for a third of a yard. The price will be very close to what you'd pay for a fat quarter there and you'll end up with a little more fabric, as well. I read once that Alex Anderson always buys 1/3 rather than a fat.
I'd prefer for a fat quarter to be cut ahead of time rather than on the spot anyway since there might be more chance for a mistake when cutting. (Not to mention that if I were the cutter, I'd prefer not to be watched). But that's just me!
A lot of times, fat quarters are cut from the end of the bolt not from 'fresh, new' bolts - depending on the shop's policy.
lots2do

Don't know about a trend...I do know that buying FQs are much more expensive than cutting it yourself. Once I figured out (what a math genius I am, lol) the FQs are so much more expensive, I know buy at a minimum 1/2 yard.