Let me suggest a (potentially less expensive) answer to your overall issue.

1) if the issue is that you are not sure the razor you have is shave ready, take it to Ross's and have them look at it. They would probably hone it for you for a fee. If it is a question of whether it is reputable steel, just tell us what brand of razor it is.

2) I certainly hope that you have (by now) contacted the member in question. They will probably want to make things right. Since, at this point, there isn't a way to be sure if it is the honing or the stropping, I (personally) would shoulder part of the cost (if it had been a razor I sold).

3) Send it to one of the honemeisters.