How to Buy an Ibérico Jamón

What is the best way to choose an Ibérico Jamón without trying it? It should be mentioned that when we buy a ham in a conventional store, we won’t be given a sample of the exact ham we are going to buy, but of a similar one which happens to be sliced open at the time.  This allows us to test an excellent ham and will help us avoid taking home a bad ham.

If one is looking for products of highest quality, meat from acorn-fed (bellota) pigs should always be bought. This provides a certain guarantee of quality.

Within the different Protected Designation of Origin (P.D.O.) areas (Guijuelo, Extremadura, Huelva, etc.), the ham should be chosen from the area we like the most. If we choose a ham from a P.D.O., we will pay a little bit more, but we will have an added guarantee from the regulatory council of that P.D.O.

One should not be carried away by low prices, as acorn-fed Iberian hams have a certain base cost and if the hams are selling below that, something is not right.

First, we should concentrate on finding a reliable place to buy our ham. There are lots of stores on-line these days that sell hams- but which are serious and trustworthy ones?

It is important that the store have contact details easily visible and that they are easily reachable. The fastest way to contact a company is by telephone, and we should naturally be wary of stores that do not offer a contact number, address, etc., or whose details are hard to find. A phone number is always comforting to have when consulting on the purchase of a ham or resolving any questions that might come up.
A phone number is always comforting to have when consulting on the purchase of a ham or resolving any questions that might come up.
We should also pay attention to whether or not the company introduces their staff to the consumer, as it is important to bear in mind that although we are purchasing online, there is a human team behind the preparation and shipping of every order. Once we have cleared up those questions, all we have left to do is select our purchase.

The guarantee that the store offers us is important, as it protects us in case we receive a product that does not meet our expectations or is defective, and it is necessary to return or exchange it.

Finally, we should pay attention to the types of payment that are available.
There is a general distrust when it comes to paying online with credit cards, but it is actually more risky paying in a restaurant with a credit card than doing so online.  When we go to dinner and we use use our credit card, the wait staff normally take it with them to run it through the register. Who is to say that in the time they have the card, a copy is not made for later use? This does not happen on the internet since our information is sent encrypted and the store does not have access to it (at least not in stores with the Safe Payment).
One can also pay with PayPal, where it is not necessary to give personal information and insurance covers up to 500€ in case of problems.
Lastly, one can always pay via bank transfer.