212-920-8181

does rob davis still run nyc?

I work for a Global Telcom company and was asked to have a look at the company in regard to credentials by the VP for Marketing all I have to say guys is thanks for the insight and keep up the good work.

We were just about to sign up for a platinum sponsorship, thankfully we saw the thread on Linkedin about the company and have managed to read a few pages on here.

A notice has gone out to all staff and to our closest clients warning not to engage with GDS, iStrategy or any other associated companies mentioned here.  We have worked with them in the past, we will no longer be working with them in the future.  We may consider legal action if the allegations about statistics and circulations are proven to be true.

Any company that tries to cover up such negative press most definitely has something to hide, what sickens me the most is some of the comments from what appears to be actual employees from the company.

I will post this link back on Linkedin and will be sure our next newsletter to our own clients carry a warning and link to this thread.

Thank you so much to all those that have posted.  Keep up the good work.

I added a contraversies section to the GDS wikipage, it stood for about five days before being blanked out.

To anyone who wishes to help keep track of it just register on wiki and undo the blanking, the section I added has external references so it qualifies far more as an encyclopedic article than the main article.

How pretentious are these guys using wikipedia as a marketing tool.

That's nice mocking people for losing their jobs. Not everyone in Gds are scum some people need the job for the cash and to laugh at them for losing their jobs is pretty low.

I do feel sorry for the ordinary sales people, receptionists, events girls and technical support people for being out of work in KL, but in reality it was going to happen sooner or later, because as I remember KL's sales figures were horrendous.

Now the real question as far as I am concerned is; what happens to managers and directors when an office or particular project go belly up?


They do not accept any excuse for failure from their staff, will they hold themselves to the same scruitiny? I doubt it. If they were really going to live the the [***] they preach they should have sacked the management in KL and started in fresh to make it work. After all it was a relatively new office and they didn't even feel the need to try a little harder to make it work?!

Piss weak GDS, you push your sales people, 90% of who are hoodwinked into working for you and know nothing about the true GDS culture, to stand (literally!) and deliver and yet when it comes to holding yourselves to the high (or low it's all subjective I guess) standard you set there is only muted silince.

Only one word, hypocrisy......

Based on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating of D- on a scale from A+ to F.

Factor(s) that lowered this business' rating include:
Failure to respond to 1 complaint filed against businessFactor(s) that raised this business' rating include:
 Length of time business has been operating.Complaint volume filed with BBB for business of this size.BBB has sufficient background information on this business.

BBB rating is based on 16 factors. Click here for details about the factors considered.

Business Contact & ProfileBack to Top Business Name:  
GDS International Inc.  

Business Address:  
19 W. 44th St, Suite 514
New York, NY 10036

Original Business Start Date:
4/1/2002  

Type of Entity:  
Corporation  

Incorporated:  
2002 in NY  

Phone Number:  
(212) 302-6020  

Fax Number:  
(212) 354-6595  

Email Address:  
info@gdsnewyork.com  

BBB Accreditation:  
This business is not a BBB Accredited Business

Type of Business:  
PUBLISHERS-DIRECTORY & GUIDE
PUBLISHERS-PERIODICAL  

Website Address:
http://www.gdsinternational.com

Good to see GDS doing something positive with what I said, and glad to see it did not fall on deaf ears.

http://www.gdsfoundation.com/ - A Worthy cause.

Just one gripe, and that is the Meettheboss Twitter feed.  That is in bad taste really.  Perhaps a more philanthropic feed would be more suitable.

Credit where it is due, and I do truly hope you exceed your targets.

It is a start.

(Remember Orwell is watching)

Hi, I've been invited as a delegate to a GDS's future summit.

Is it a good idea to accept, even with full costs paid by GDS (airfare, acommodations,etc.)? I am still on time to reply.....!

Thanks.

Hi, I've been invited as a delegate to a GDS's future summit.

Is it a good idea to accept, even with full costs paid by GDS (airfare, acommodations,etc.)? I am still on time to reply.....!

Thanks.

As a delegate you've nothing to lose so why not?

However the sponsors are told the delegates are big wigs with authority to make deals then and there and are attending these things specifically to do business, we former employees contend that that is not the full truth, could you share with us your perspective? Under what premise would you attend the event and would you be open to doing a deal with someone then and there?

I know this is puting you on the spot as you will either repudiate what GDS are saying or give them a fantastic testimonial and I don't mean to put the pressure on but we haven't had a comment from an actual delegate yet and it would be great to get one.

And if you do attend the event would you be willing to write a review of it here from your perspective?

All expenses paid trip to simply attend.  Why not.

If you are happy, then go for it, the events have in the past been a good place to network, even if not 100% as you are expecting.

I am a former employee.  Here's what you need to know as a so-called "Delegate".  GDS could not care less about whether this entire trip is a boring waste of your time, or whether you connect with legitimate providers who can meet your companies pain points.  They tell vendors so many lies and use your name to carry out their scam.  Are you aware that they are charging vendors $20,000-60,0000 to pitch to you?  Can you understand the desperation these companies feel to sell you something and get a return for their money?

If GDS went about their business in an ethical way, sure but they dont.  Telemarketers are trained to prank call vendors and make up stories to obtain the cell phone numbers of C-Level executives. Once they get them on the phone, they use your name and company to convince people that you want to buy their products.

Just Google "GDS Scam".  Read on and you'll learn what you need to about this company's unscrupulous practices.  I know I wouldn't let these professional con artists use my name to hustle people.  And you can't stop them.  Once you sign that form, they tell executives to visit the site where your picture is posted as proof of your attendance and interest.

This is precisely why a majority of the executives that sign up, end up pulling out.  You can buy your own vacation.  GDS is a scam.  But who know?  If you're a hustler, you may enjoy the con.  You've been warned.  More than half the "Delegates" they mention will not be at the event by the time it comes around.

These hacks will make you think there's some pressing deadline.  If you are a major executive or represent a powerful company, you have all the time in the world.  Theyre so desperate, they will bring you down the day of.  Just think, do you want GDS telling people you are coming to this event to buy their products because as soon as you commit, that's what they do.

GDS has A LOT of negativity linked to it due to the manner in which they routinely break federal communication laws to sell their events.  They ignore DO NOT CALL lists and literally stalk people who refuse to buy.  They could care less about an executive's request to be removed from a list.  

They will insult business people who refuse their offers.  GDS is just not good business. Period.

I left the company not long ago, and I will say that yes GDS had a rocky past. But what major organization didn't have a rocky start? I recall reading an interview with Lawrence Ellison and he said him self that in the early days of Oracle that he would do some underhand things just to get the deal.

GDS has learned from its mistakes and is truly stronger for it. I have a friend who tells me there is a new HR policy in place (no more boiler room). They are concentrating 100% on summits, that deliver real benefits and value for both the delegates and sponsors. They have even started doing some fantastic work with charity's aiming to raise £100k for autism in the first 6 months of this year.  

Every summit has a solid advisory board with some of the biggest names in each business vertical putting there name to GDS summits. Do you think a CEO/CIO/CISO ect of a major fortune 500 company would work and recommended theses summits if they were not legit? They pay PR people £10000's a year to research and make sure these guys are seen at the right places.

As with regards to gaining phone numbers ect.....some times you have to be a but sly and underhand to get a cell number or DD as its the only way to pitch the right people with the budgets.....it's all part of the game and they know that as well.

I left the company because I am moving abroad, but if GDS open an office in my new country I will be sure to be the first one to apply as its a great company going places.

So to all you as the kids say ''haters'' get over your self's stop nit picking over some events that took places years ago. If you think you can do a better job go ahead and start your own media company and when you have a turnover of £million's and have a client rebook rate of 70%+ and donate £100,000+ to charity. After you have done that then you can come on here and [***] and moan, but my all means don't be surprised if along the way if you upset a few people and see a few (might I say pointless) discussion boards about your company.

Time will tell.

get fed up of standing on your feet all day its good that GDS still come on here to make it look like things are changing. You seem to be god with numbers so if you post how many current employees are under 24 and are VP and Managers that would be interesting and also the turn over rate of staff that would be funny.

Ta Ta you liar

Out of interest , which office did you work in ...uk ?

I love coming back to this blog to read the negativity from bitter ex-employees.

In the three years I was there I never saw anyone getting sacked for not putting in a shift. Sure there would be cries of 'get on the phone' and 'put your chairs away' - but those shouts never came out when people were doing what they were paid to do - sell...

Indeed people who didn't sell were given every chance, provided they maintained a positive attitude and kept working hard. After all selling is a key part of a sales job, so not selling will eventually lead to you getting the sack - that is basics!

The fact that GDS is now ramping up and publicising their charity work can only be a good thing both for the image of the company and the charities that will benefit. GDS needs to combat sites like this where the keyboard cowboys take out their frustrations and give a negative light of what is a progressive, successful and respected company.

For those people looking at this wondering if they should take a job offer - ask yourself if you can hack the pressure of sales? Can you also accept the fact that if you take the job and don't sell you will be let go? Are you willing to put up with the occasional bollocking when you are being lazy?

If the answer is no, then sales as a profession isn't for you, not just GDS.

Forget GDS SCAM .... try SCUM!! Pathetic company which will one day get what comes around! There are no career prospects at GDS unless your one of the 'gang' who take the mick out of other people in the office all day and mouth off! Trouble is .. none of these mugs are man enough to say anything to anybody's faces. These people have no morals and mouths as big as the Grand Canyon! The only thing is ... their wallets arent in reality as big as their mouths because they all drive whack cars and where terrible garms and shoes!! The job is a laughing stock ... and I'm just glad I didn't fall in to the trap of 'The GDS days out'. They only have these days out to try and cheer you up because even they know how terrible the job is! All you people backing up GDS .... I totally understand that some people have to earn their bucks and some money which is fair enough and I wouldnt begrudge anyone for doing that but if your honest .. just for one second .. you will admit that it is a total unethical farce?