You did get ripped off, but you'll learn as you go on. A few words of advice:

1) kongrr said "rub it inbetween your fingers, if you get a powdery white substance on them, thats really good". This is very untrue. Being unexperienced, you may mistake unwanted shit in your weed as trichomes (what kongrr was referring to). Not to mention, this procedure is pointless as the trichomes aren't easily visible when you rub them off a bud.

2) Look at the Cannabis Pictures board, and read what people say about the buds posted. This will give you a good idea of what good bud should look like.