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WOW- this is intense!

You CAN, actually, get a good job after GDS- I did.  Either way, even if your job totally blows, you can still be "good" at it (even if it involves scheming), and get "upper management" to like you and your work ethic.  I wouldn't recommend staying there forever (i.e., Owen Wilson's situation) but you can do pretty good for yourself after if you put in the effort, do what your told, and get people to appreciate your hard work (even if it's pretty much illegitimate).  They'll put in a good word for you when you move on.  No one is going to congratulate you in a job interview for being a quitter: "I quite because they were making me do bad stuff!  I'm too moral for that!"  After all, it's not your fault, you were just doing what you were told.

Great response. You actually had complete and thorough thoughts, as opposed to what most of the boneheads are posting on this thread. Thanks.

I think the IRS claim would be the way to get them - liquor may not be an eligible write-off. This would be a great tip for the NY District Attorney's office.

Ex and current employees who are unhappy with they way GDS treated/treats you, please post comments here: http://www.jobvent.com/companyBrowse.php?CompanyID=4407

Unsuspecting job hunters should be made aware of what it's really like to work there. Some may like it, some may not, but they should be given the truth, not the propaganda GDS preaches on its recruitment videos and during interview sessions.

Wow, you all have a real hard on for GDS.

Why don't you all just get on with your lives and stop worrying about them? Instead all this energy you are all putting into this site as well as others can be put into something far more constructive, like famine relief.

Move on, so you had a bad time there, what now you are going to spend your life trying to bury them?

And no I am not a current GDS employee, I was a very senior director at the company and left of my own choosing. I also didn't like the way they operated, especially Jim Craven and his poor management style, however I moved on and thats that.

Put a stop to your hate and do something positive instead.

While I respect your comments, I also believe putting an end to outfits like GDS is a very positive thing. Even if it saves one company some money otherwise wasted, or saves one of the scammed companies employee's job for not making the mistake of working with them. Letting places like this thrive has a negative impact on a lot more people than we might think. We all have an obligation to society, to our peers, to put an end to operations like this. Indifference just promotes more fraud, lying, cheating, and stealing... benefiting at the expense of others is wrong.
I'm sure GDS could probably get a long just fine by instituting more morally correct business practices. They have chosen not to, so the backlash is probably no big surprise to them. If you treat people poorly, they have a right to speak out and an obligation to protect others from the same experience.
Do I think GDS should get shut down? That's not for me to decide. However, I do believe they should change their practices. And until they do, people should continue to fulfill their moral obligations to make unsuspecting potential employees and clients know what is going on.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/Bait-and-Switch/GDS-Publishing/gds-publishing-circulation-s-g93fg.htm

...another victim

I was part of the management at GDS, but I didn't work on the sales floor because it wasn't for me. I left to pursue a different chapter in my life and career. Looking back, I enjoyed my time there. It was just the right time for me to move on in my own life. There were some genuine staff there, but everyone knew deep down that the place is built on false promises. I had to fire people because their face didn't fit - I didn't want to, but was told to. I'm sure now Craven is not there, the place may get better.

My point is: every one is intelligent enough to make their own decisions in life. There are plenty of companies out there to work for, plenty of jobs to do, plenty of career paths to follow and plenty of ways to earn some money. How you choose to do that is entirely up to you. It would appear that the guys on this site who are complaining (and I agree with many comments - except the racist ones) have had a really tough time at GDS and have been fired, sacked, etc for 'not fitting in'. I saw it happen time and time again first hand and the way that some people get treated is really, really poor.

But what is the point of all this hate campaign against individuals? It is counter-productive and you should channel your energy into the company, not the foot soldiers.

YOU ARE A CURRENT EMPLOYEE!!!

can I ask, what do you mean by, "their face didn't fit"???

Agreed, but ranting on a forum isn't going to accomplish anything, especially if using crass language...the messages on this thread just come across as very bitter.

Does anyone know what's going on with the NY District Attorney investigation???

i used to work here, and had the same feelings about this place, and id say 50 percent of the stuff on this site is true. however, i am still working in the "corporate world" in audit and although its not sales, there are still a fair share of scumbags, still unstable job environment, stilll very cliquish. the only thing different is the stable pay so GDS isnt realy a unique case.

and one more thing, there are def. a few good people at GDS.and to b devil's advocate, alex is a good guy at heart. --just a little brainwashed.  most people are still real young 23-25 and i suggest you enjoy ur 4-5 months time there, find something ur happy doin, and look back and laugh.

In regards to magazine circulation:

If you really wanted to check the distribution figures go to companies house in the UK and buy a copy of the annual report they have to submit. This give a breakdown of all expenses + revenue it only cost about 25 pounds.

If that shows minimal printing costs then you know what they say is a lie.

* I would imagine they have a similar system in the US but I'm unsure

According to the Federal Trade Commission, though you wouldn't necessarily have to say you are calling from GDS, if you are calling from the Next Generation Utilities Summit, you have to say I'm calling from the "Next Generation Utilities Summit" not I'm calling from the "Utilities and Energy Technology Group" or some other "FAKE" name that suggests you are some sort of analyst or consultant. ESPN calls and they say they are calling from ESPN, not the International Sports Consortium. Conclusion, you are using a fake name and misrepresenting yourself. I know it's difficult, I'm sure you enjoy your job and like your company, which is great. But don't hide from the truth. Not gonna judge, as you said, no ones perfect. But apples are apples, lets not pretend their not.

Now someone will reply to this that sales is sales, and this happens everywhere. I wont deny that, it happens at a lot of places, but that certainly doesn't make it right. That sort of elementary argument wont justify your actions. Regardless, I assure you there are plenty of people making plenty of money without using poor sales tactics.

Does anyone know what's going on with the NY District Attorney investigation???

I am not a current employee, but it doesn't matter if you believe me or not. 'Face doesn't fit' simply refers to those who were sacked for not pulling the company line, etc. It's a common saying. Google it!

I love the camel on the side of the add, has definately been seen by more people than a GDS  'round table'. HAHA

Most companies have a vast amount of polotics, however thay do not expect you to break laws and work in such a shoddy envirinment. I would also say that senior managemnt in a 'normal'; company, would consist of more highly developed benings than the gds crew!

so lets talk about GDS. Everyone on here certainly has alot to say, but how many people have actually done anything about what they say? It seems to me that anyone can post on this blog and spout insults about former management and current employees, lower the tone with racial insults and rubbish.

Who knows for sure the stages of any current investigations in the UK or USA? Lets get that up and posted, if there isnt any information regarding this then everyone here is as bad as Spencer Green, all talk and no testicles, fronting up on the internet and saying this or the other?
Come on guys, get a grip on individual attacks and lets shut this company and ensure that Mr Green and his minions get their just deserts!
Only former employees who no the truth can make the initial actions to make a complaint, so look back through the thread, find the contacts listed and send an email

i totally agree! i think people are spending too much time on here talking [***] about individuals and not about the actual company. if you are going to say anything bad about upper management make sure you back it up with relevant information that can help take down GDS as a whole. who cares about who is sleeping with who. for an example: yes mariana and rob davis are dating. this is wrong because he is part of upper management and she's a regular sales associate. this is not right but calling her a [***] has no relevant to the fact that GDS is wrong for allowing this to happen. let's keep this site clean with FACTS about GDS and how they scam company in hope that people that come across this site can take actions against them. They are a scam! we all know that. let's work together in taking them down by putting up information we can use.
Go to their event sites and check out their delegate and sponsor video testimonials and contact those people and let them know of this site and any other sites that talks about GDS being a scam so that they are aware. Current employees of GDS, i know some of you go on this website and read this stuff. I know you know that GDS is a scam. Help us in shutting them down. GDS had changed their passwords to all their summits and you have the new ones. Keep posting them on here. they will have to keep changing it, but continue posting the new ones on here. it's the only way to keep them from pitching false information!

I 100% agree. This site used to be a site where people would see that GDS products are not a worthy investment for their business. Instead it has become a bash site which leads people to think that everyone is just a bitter ex employee and the statements about how GDS conducts business is bitter talk and not factual. Grow up.