At least at Cosco or Sam's club you can select your own to some degree. We have a long standing relationship with our butcher here in town. We've always placed our large meat orders plenty in advance, with instructions on exactly what we are looking for. We recently entered our first competition and set a date to pick up the meat order the day before we left. We were really disappointed when we got home and sorted out our goods to find out that the chicken pieces came from mammouth sized chickens. All the trimming they cound handle and six pieces could barely fit in the box. We had never been previously disappointed by this very experienced butcher with whom we had a great relationship. When it comes to any meat selection, you can only trust yourself. Where you buy doesn't matter, cause everyone has their own agenda and you never know what your butcher may try to pass off on you just because he dosen't want to loose the sale. Although you're talking ribs and I'm talkin' chicken, hope you get my point.