Sometimes they will cut it for you if you tell them you prefer that. I actually prefer the ripping method because I'm assured that the piece will be on-grain. This is especially true with backing fabric for my long-arm, since, if it has been cut, I have to rip it anyway to be sure it is straight and I wind up losing fabric on each end in the straightening process. Often, fabric which has been cut is very off grain. I've started a tear barely past the cut on one side of 104" backing and had it grow to 4 or 5 inches on the other end.