#1 and without question - the clerk should have been polite with her response! The customer does not know (nor should they have to) how fabrics are categorized. We do not decide what is novelty, juvenile or calico. This is decided by those sitting somewhere far away in windowless offices who have no clue (or at least it feels like that!). But, there is a way to explain it that will not make a customer feel dumb and perhaps will create an additional sale. I am in retail and get so frustrated at poor service - a happy customer is a returning customer!