Original SOE-Customer Service Warning

[Afff_667]

People either hate John Willis and OSOE or they hate them...there's not much, if any, middle ground on the guy.

I have an OSOE mag pouch and medical insert that I purchased (and still use) on the secondary market long before I learned anything about the John Willis business model, his background, and his personal baggage. I understand that a lot of folks are able to blow off the negative things said or written about him and rely solely upon the quality of his gear as the basis for their decisions to buy from him, and that's fine for them. It's not fine with me, though.

The stolen valor thing comes from John's unflinching support of Cory Jackson. Google is your friend if you want to learn more, but Jackson basically claimed to be an 11Bravo and veteran while promoting his business and Youtube videos, but he actually went AWOL, and then changed his story for his adoring public when called on it all. Strike 1...

John is also a very close friend and supporter of James Yeager. Google Yeager and Route Irish...Yeager and Tactical Response. Strike 2...

There's the OSOE business model. I get it. The gear is solid...overpriced in almost every case, but it's solid. The thing is that there are some great gear manufacturers out there now who make equally solid gear (or better), at more reasonable prices, with much more desirable delivery times, and without having to deal with OSOE. Strike 3...

John is a convicted drug felon who was subsequently busted in San Diego for weapons violations. I'm all for people turning their lives around, but... Strike 4...

John and OSOE (as well as Jackson and Yeager) have their fanboys. Strike 5...

You can spend your money much more wisely than with John Willis and OSOE.

[Taypo]

People either hate John Willis and OSOE or they hate them...there's not much, if any, middle ground on the guy.

I have an OSOE mag pouch and medical insert that I purchased (and still use) on the secondary market long before I learned anything about the John Willis business model, his background, and his personal baggage. I understand that a lot of folks are able to blow off the negative things said or written about him and rely solely upon the quality of his gear as the basis for their decisions to buy from him, and that's fine for them. It's not fine with me, though.

The stolen valor thing comes from John's unflinching support of Cory Jackson. Google is your friend if you want to learn more, but Jackson basically claimed to be an 11Bravo and veteran while promoting his business and Youtube videos, but he actually went AWOL, and then changed his story for his adoring public when called on it all. Strike 1...

John is also a very close friend and supporter of James Yeager. Google Yeager and Route Irish...Yeager and Tactical Response. Strike 2...

There's the OSOE business model. I get it. The gear is solid...overpriced in almost every case, but it's solid. The thing is that there are some great gear manufacturers out there now who make equally solid gear (or better), at more reasonable prices, with much more desirable delivery times, and without having to deal with OSOE. Strike 3...

John is a convicted drug felon who was subsequently busted in San Diego for weapons violations. I'm all for people turning their lives around, but... Strike 4...

John and OSOE (as well as Jackson and Yeager) have their fanboys. Strike 5...

You can spend your money much more wisely than with John Willis and OSOE.

Ive heard a lot of good things about his gear, but given the price and his delivery times (12 weeks for nylon? It takes my leather guy half that and I can get Wilderness Tactical overnighted) I shop elsewhere. His public image doesn't really mean much to me.

[Oldgringo]

Who/whatever this guy and SOE is, they were just now the beneficiaries of a bunch of free publicity.

[SigM4]

So before I knew of all the background with John Willis I had ordered a Micro Chest rig back on 11/17/15. Subsequently, and prior to this thread, I learned about everything that he was involved in and decided it wasn't worth the wait, nor supporting something me of that caliber. To that end I emailed to cancel my order. The following is the progression of emails between John and myself.

Me replying to order confirmation email:
John, please cancel my order.

John Willis' response:
It says this on the page you ordered from in BIG BOLD LETERS 3 times the font size of all other text on the page

“We have turned on all AK/M4 micros. Many of them we do not have and have no ETA. We have turned on the inventory so that you may order them. Ordering them now is considered a pre order and is non refundable.”


Me:
Honestly John this has nothing to do with the order itself, rather that I started to instigate your background. I have no interest in supporting a convicted felon or someone who would support a stolen valor actor. Nor do I appreciate the absolute distain that you so readily show towards your customers.

Secondly, your claim that the "warning" is three time the font size of the rest of the text is laughable. While it may be bolded, it is no where near that big. You claim on the order page to have no ETA, however in the subsequent email below it states "Original S.O.E. Gear endeavors to manufacture and ship all orders within 8-12 weeks", so which is it?

Regardless, it does not matter. The beauty of paying with a credit card is that they offer card member protection, I will gladly let them refund my money and fight it out with you.

All that to say you may remove me from your queue. I would not be caught dead using your gear, no mater the quality at this point.

Sincerely,
SigM4

John Willis' response:
You can try that. Let the fun and games begin. You are about to be more famous than I am. Let the games begin dipspit (edited for vulgarity). By the time this is over you might get you 120 some dollars back. It will cost you way beyond that and I will make a fast 25 grand off this in the next few weeks. While your playing chess we will be playing checkers.


"While your playing chess we will be playing checkers." This quote is classic. Just goes to show you mentality and intellect level this man is on.

[Solaris]

From what I hear SOE makes excellent gear. Their prices are a bit steep. But I have or never will do business with SOE because of the owner John Willis.

Not only is SOE owner John Willis an ardent supporter of alleged military valor stealers , he’s also very hateful to his customers. It would appear that this convicted felon feels it’s a great idea to humiliate his customers.

Just google SOE or John Willis on youtube "order right" and "customer service rant" and "rant" to see how he treats his customers.

Extreme language warning.

The irony you criticize him, yet lifted it from cnn to do it. Even if you are the cnn author, you should give attribution.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1217980

Not only is SOE owner John Willis an ardent supporter of alleged military valor stealer Cory Alan Jackson, he’s also very hateful to his customers. It would appear that this convicted felon feels it’s a great idea to humiliate his customers.

[parabelum]

From what I hear SOE makes excellent gear. Their prices are a bit steep. But I have or never will do business with SOE because of the owner John Willis.

Not only is SOE owner John Willis an ardent supporter of alleged military valor stealers , he’s also very hateful to his customers. It would appear that this convicted felon feels it’s a great idea to humiliate his customers.

Just google SOE or John Willis on youtube "order right" and "customer service rant" and "rant" to see how he treats his customers.

Extreme language warning.

The irony you criticize him, yet lifted it from cnn to do it. Even if you are the cnn author, you should give attribution.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1217980

Not only is SOE owner John Willis an ardent supporter of alleged military valor stealer Cory Alan Jackson, he’s also very hateful to his customers. It would appear that this convicted felon feels it’s a great idea to humiliate his customers.

People like that will get their comeupins eventually.
Unnecessary and dispicable behavior, beneath contempt.

[LSUTiger]

From what I hear SOE makes excellent gear. Their prices are a bit steep. But I have or never will do business with SOE because of the owner John Willis.

Not only is SOE owner John Willis an ardent supporter of alleged military valor stealers , he’s also very hateful to his customers. It would appear that this convicted felon feels it’s a great idea to humiliate his customers.

Just google SOE or John Willis on youtube "order right" and "customer service rant" and "rant" to see how he treats his customers.

Extreme language warning.

The irony you criticize him, yet lifted it from cnn to do it. Even if you are the cnn author, you should give attribution.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1217980

Not only is SOE owner John Willis an ardent supporter of alleged military valor stealer Cory Alan Jackson, he’s also very hateful to his customers. It would appear that this convicted felon feels it’s a great idea to humiliate his customers.

My bad I thought I included the link, simple oversight. I guess that irony puts me in the same league as a John Willis, convicted felon, valor stealer supporter, customer bashing and all around not a good guy.

[Soccerdad1995]

So before I knew of all the background with John Willis I had ordered a Micro Chest rig back on 11/17/15. Subsequently, and prior to this thread, I learned about everything that he was involved in and decided it wasn't worth the wait, nor supporting something me of that caliber. To that end I emailed to cancel my order. The following is the progression of emails between John and myself.

Me replying to order confirmation email:
John, please cancel my order.

John Willis' response:
It says this on the page you ordered from in BIG BOLD LETERS 3 times the font size of all other text on the page

“We have turned on all AK/M4 micros. Many of them we do not have and have no ETA. We have turned on the inventory so that you may order them. Ordering them now is considered a pre order and is non refundable.”


Me:
Honestly John this has nothing to do with the order itself, rather that I started to instigate your background. I have no interest in supporting a convicted felon or someone who would support a stolen valor actor. Nor do I appreciate the absolute distain that you so readily show towards your customers.

Secondly, your claim that the "warning" is three time the font size of the rest of the text is laughable. While it may be bolded, it is no where near that big. You claim on the order page to have no ETA, however in the subsequent email below it states "Original S.O.E. Gear endeavors to manufacture and ship all orders within 8-12 weeks", so which is it?

Regardless, it does not matter. The beauty of paying with a credit card is that they offer card member protection, I will gladly let them refund my money and fight it out with you.

All that to say you may remove me from your queue. I would not be caught dead using your gear, no mater the quality at this point.

Sincerely,
SigM4

John Willis' response:
You can try that. Let the fun and games begin. You are about to be more famous than I am. Let the games begin dipspit (edited for vulgarity). By the time this is over you might get you 120 some dollars back. It will cost you way beyond that and I will make a fast 25 grand off this in the next few weeks. While your playing chess we will be playing checkers.


"While your playing chess we will be playing checkers." This quote is classic. Just goes to show you mentality and intellect level this man is on.

A credit card chargeback is the obvious route.

Personally, I would also strongly consider filing a complaint with the state AG over his attempted intimidation in trying to get you to forego a legal alternative to resolving your business dispute. Followed up with a criminal libel complaint if he goes through with his threat to "make you famous". You might also want to contact his parole officer.

Then again, I don't take kindly to bullies.