I've done this at Albertson's with good luck. I always ask to speak to a store manager, not the employee who works that department.
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I'm using the first VDH boar brush I bought when I first started SR shaving. It's been good to me, however I got a nice Simpson badger brush with my Dovo shaving kit from SRD, but I am holding off using it until the VDH brush gives out.
I read somewhere in this forum that it's good to use a shampoo and conditioner on the shaving brushes to keep them in good shape.
Good luck on wearing out the VDH. Not that they're the most durable of brushes...mine still sheds some...but it will take you quite a while to actually wear it out. Use it a month to get it broken in and get used to how it lathers, then switch to the Simpson for a month to break it in and get used to it. Then you can compare which you like better. Some guys have brush/soap combos they prefer. I'm not there...yet.
So far as taking care of them, it's not a bad idea to shampoo and condition a new brush a couple of times, but after that I wouldn't worry about it; shampooing and conditioning helps to make sure it's clean before you use it, and jump starts the break in process.
Peace,