Murri is right to suggest changing the basking bulb...it will be causing issues.
Ceramics are radiant heaters, and there isnt enough direction to the heat they give off.
Beardies are also basking lizards, they are very much light-responsive in their basking habits.
You are right about beardies liking height, and it is completely natural for them. Although they are technically classed as Terrestial, they do behave like they are semi-arboreal. Nice wide branches and a raised basking platform will all get used.
At 8 weeks old, it should be eating quite actively, 2 or 3 feeding times with live a day and plenty of small insects. How big are the crickets etc that its eating?
You are right to remember you have only just got it, I would probably give a week without interaction and then slowly build from there. You may even find covering the viv for that week to be beneficial. It sounds a lot like its recognised its in different territory and trying to get out.
Leave some things like mealworms in a worm dish and see if it eats when left alone as well.
If its still not eating after a week when given lots of space, then it would be time to worry, but that assumes the setup is correct, which isnt quite the case here but a few changes and it will be far more suited.
I'm assuming you have a UV tube in there along with the ceramic, depending on the strength you want it set so the distance from the bulb to the basking surface is roughly 12" with a 10.0 or 10% bulb, 15" with a 12% or 18" with a 14% so you need to choose your bulb by looking at the viv dimensions. Aim for bright and well lit one end, and shade in the cool end. Sit the bulb up into the warm end and leave about a third of the viv length as a gap in the cool end.
You want a raised basking area, you can have bits of wood and stone built into something, I would not use the hammock under it though, keep it in the warm end and maybe fit to a corner so it can chill there in warmth but not basking if it wants. The main part under the basking bulb should be stone to help take in heat and remain warm once the bulb goes off in the evening. An adult should be in something no smaller than 4ft by 2ft by 2ft, which would normally mean a 12% UV too (14% are too strong in anything less than 2.5Ft high). I would look at a basking area thats then about 8 to 10 inches from base level, with something like a halogen basking bulb then about 12 inches from the basking area. In the cool end there should be the option of shade, so bits of corkbark that it can climb ontop, or go underneath and shelter are often useful (especially if your UV tube is a bit long). Cover like this is also good for making areas with slightly higher humidity and areas it can digout if you put a proper substrate layer in. But I would leave that until its a few months older.
Set temps from a surface reading of the basking area (aprox 42C to 45C) and an air temp reading in the cool area (keep below 26C and aim more 24C), you want some covered parts/caves/hides which can be anything from building a slate basking area which can have a cave under it, to bits of driftwood, cork bark, branches... what you need to remember is they are not as good at climbing as they think, so no big drops onto stone, avoid fake plants as they have been known to try and eat them, and dont overcrowd it. You want free running space, and encourage it to be active, feed it away from the basking area, make it hunt live prey and chase dont hand feed.
Its appetite will be directly tied to how energised its feeling, which means how effectively it can bask in this case. Soaking in ambient heat is very slow for them, and at this age, you will have the effect of limiting its growth. It wont ever feel properly warmed up and energised, so it wont eat like a horse because its digestion levels are going to be sluggish. You want it bright and well lit (dont use coloured bulbs) as this also stimulates their appetite amongst other things. You will want humidity around 30/35% at basking, a waterbowl in the cool end and then dont be afraid of humidity around 50/60% in any dugouts (with proper substrate) and hiding areas in the cool end. In the wild they dig themselves burrows which are often around 60% and hold heat during the night. I would recommend a light misting in the mornings and focus a few pumps into any cave bits or hiding areas as well, they are from arid areas, but they shouldnt be kept bonedry.
I understand you may see the pet store as "being the professionals" but I cannot express how far that is from the truth in a HUGE amount of cases, its rare to get a genuinely good pet store, and I mean that.
The setup they've "advised" is not suited.