Hi Eban, and welcome to SRP.
I can only agree with the previous posters - get your razor honed properly and feel the difference.
My experience with the vendor you mention (in Brisbane) is such that they wouldn't know what shave ready is (meaning no disrespect).
The guy in my local shop has only had one straight shave and that was for his high school formal, done by a barber.
I spent some time talking with him and he was really clueless when it came to straight shaving, unfortunately.
It's just a training thing with this outlet, I think.
Read the stickies here, ask questions, look at the videos, practice and, most of all, hang on and enjoy the ride.
It gets better every time.
Geoff