212-920-8181

James you may laugh and believe that sites like this have no credibility as you say.  But then why have GDS spent a considerable amount of time and money trying to OUT SEO, non credible sites such as this.

Oh, and this non credible site is number 1 position on google and plenty of other sites link directly to this thread giving it more credibility.

Also for the record.  I am former employee, but was not sacked.  I have no axe to grind, just a cross to bear.

I lied, I cheated, I turned a blind eye to criminal activity, I feel every bit responsible for their success, however I will do whatever I can within the law to be in part responsible for their demise, and that is by no means a threat nor should it be taken as such.

I despise the company not for its people but for its ideals, methodologies and the effect that had on my life.  Karma, is a [***] though.  So you do what you need to in order to make amends and to atone for one's role in it.

Wheels are already in motion, statements have been made and we will all just have to wait and see.  If I were Spencer I would be looking for a buyer about now. But then again, any company doing its due diligence will come across this site. Ooops

due your research - people are awarded share options and its quite clearly stated.

Facts are this, GDS in the past have sold illegitimate products and shown a ruthless tactic with telesales. This rests in the hands of the management.

However, current products are offering value to customers. It's not so easy for me to say too much bad about GDS, i realise that not being sucked into to all the gossip and snipe vibe of this thread has me going against the flow. But it has been my experience that Spencer is a good man. If people have been harshly fired or ill-treated by some other staff member, then it's not fair to put blame to the entire company. [***], trouble makers, they exist in every part of the world unfortunately. But to keep balance you can't tar everyone with the same brush.

People do learn from their mistakes. Granted, lucrative decisions are enough to keep anyone using illegitimate tactics. But these are not sustainable. The management are aware of these blogs, and that this consists of some people irritated by sales calls, some because of the way their employment at the company wasn't pleasant, and other posts of pure insult.

Be a better person. I try to be fair. I would encourage others reading this to do the same.

looooooool @ whistler i had 2 write bcoz funneee...

whistler1
Special Thanks Go Out To James Craven, without you none of this would be happening.

whistler2
James Craven Asia Correspondent.  Mr Craven deserves a whole site dedicated to him alone, but one thing at a time.

n ur 2nd post u decide 2b sum 1 else?

whisteler2
I am former employee, but was not sacked.  I have no axe to grind, just a cross to bear.

whistler1
Message to Spencer.. - You back stabbed the wrong person

ye, ye u do decide 2 be sum1 else!! do u have lomng blak jaket and stand in doors goin scarey wooo @ gurlz?

whister
Still makes me laugh, we have this up on our office wall here.

u hv a legal note on ur office wall and it make u laff? pleez pleez let me cum 2 ur next partee!

OK I'll take your word for it, but I've noticed framed certificates for X ammount of shares on some of the managers desks while I was there...

go to the contacts page for istrategyconference.com and you will see:

Global Conference Director
Max Ford
max.ford@istrategyconference.com
U.S. Director
Thomas Wigan
thomas.wigan@gdsinternational.com
APAC Director
Tyron McGurgan
tyron@gdsinternational.com


They will no doubt change the email adresses for the big wigs just like they did for the floorwalkers, but for now you can clearly see that it is one and the same company and also the US director seems to be a minor celebrity on this site anyway, so I hope that is enough proof :)

PS have you ever noticed there is an inverse equation to literacy and time spent at GDS?

You're joking right? The only people who post here are people who got duped into being customers and people who almost got duped into being customers and the reason they post is so it doesn't happen to anyone else. The others are former staff members at this revolving door place who want to spare other people the indignity of having to work there as 80% of new recruits wont last a couple months and 95% wont last a year and will get scammed out of their commissions by managers if the opportunity arises.

This is a public service, there is no hate. You do certain things, you acquire a reputation good or bad it has been earnt by you and no one else, GDS could not possibly in this information age treat their customers and staff in such a manner for over fifteen years and expect to keep their practices secret.

And they have not reformed at all, the miami office was set up to expand into South America and Singapore into Asia specificaly because they are non english speaking markets and they rationalised their reputation will not follow them there, hence also rebranding attempts and their adventures in Russia.

Sorry that I cant transcribe the sarcasm, points and rhetoric more clearly in a way that someone of your intellect or indeed lack thereof can understand the literal meaning in what I am saying.

I would suggest that you go back and read those posts, and try to comprehend what they actually said instead of what you think you understood from them.

I stand by all the comments you addressed so eloquently, but can not be responsible for anyone else using the same moniker.

I would like to point out however that I don't "have lmng blak jaket and stand in doors goin scarey woo @ gurlz" but I do appreciate your humour and intelligent attempt to discredit me.  I am sure you managed to convince everyone here that you are an intelligent girl that knows what she is talking about.

As for the legal notice, perhaps you misunderstood that point also.  I have a print out of a website that ridicules the very fabric of incompetence of GDS and its Legal Counsel, looking at the comments on other websites carrying the laughable attempt to sue, the point pretty much speaks for itself.

You can visit www.companieshouse.gov.uk and use the webcheck service to gain access to public information on companies including its shareholders.

It will cost £1 per request for information.

I stand by that no other member of staff aside of Spencer, Gigsy or former CEO James Craven own shares in GDS

If share notice awards are being displayed then those were issued after December 2010, or, perhaps they are an attempt to encourage employees into the whole GDS way of thinking.

Somewhat cult like perhaps.

Unlike many comments, I am happy to be challenged in proof and will happily provide the admin of this site such proof should it be requested.

Thanks,  iStrategy comes across as the right kind of business model, selling to delegates.

I can't comment on whether or not its a scam/sham.

From what I have heard, its all above board, however my only concerns are that those running the conferences are those who have been a part of GDS for some time.  Can a leopard change its spots, I believe they can, but I would remain cautious.

I am not going to attack them on something that I can not verify or indeed prove.  If GDS have made changes then good for them.

Forums like this are not to attack a company they are meant to be a platform for people to call the companies out, and allow the company to respond to comments and criticism.  

Perhaps Spencer encourages employees to address comments in the manner to which they do, and perhaps some of these comments are Spencer himself.

One thing is clear, is that the mindset of the GDS dark years exist, judging by the comments so it does bring into question the perceived changes.

I am more than happy to continue feeding the fire, however once the fire is burned out and no one is interested in the heat then I am happy to move on also.

I agree with what you say, but the problem is that those management are still there.  If news came down that Spencer got rid of those party to the scam of the past then I would concede your point, but many of them still exist.

I believe that people can learn from their mistakes, but they still have to make it right.  The only philanthropy I can see is Spencer training for his marathon to raise money for Asperger's which is good a cause as any.

The point I guess is that what has GDS done to make amends for the damage it has caused, not just to the advertisers, but to its former employees who were treated like crap, ridiculed and discredited when challenged.  I lost count at how many times GDS were brought into an employment tribunal.

Its all very well in claiming immunity, and fairness, and I agree Spencer on the surface is a good man, that has made many bad decisions.

CHANGE, requires making things right.

1 Fact I have noticed is that this thread exists! The simple fact that it does (and that there are 1000s of posts) clearly means something is fishy. I've been called by these guys a few times. A website where there are 1000s of negative claims about a company, as well as absolutely no recognition by the BBB has made my choice simple. I am not, nor would I ever do business with these people.

As a guy on the phone that was pitching less than two months ago I would act dumb if a prospect mentioned this site, even thaught I was posting here and letting everyone know what was going on. I lost sales because of this site and never once did I reconsider to say what was on my mind on this forum

And I made sales, lets get this clear once and for all; I made my numbers and I was greatful for the comission, evevn if they did screw me out of part of it when I left.

So from that perspective let me say there is nothing criminal going on at GDS, but there are many things that are possibly illegal.

Example: manager gets the [***] because it is a slow sales week and requires you to spend the whole day standing, not just when pitching but just stand at your desk, not criminal but probably illegal as it is arbitrary punishment/abuse.

Example2: Telling a prospect that a delegate attending a summit is looking for his product/service and that you know this for a FACT because they have completed a survey, when in fact that particular person has not even confirmed attedndance, again not criminal but probably illegal.

That's what happens when the formal qualification required to be a manager or HR head is having watched "The Boiler Room" a few times.

Misrepresentation is a type of lying or falsehood in which a person says or does something that would lead another person to believe something that is not "in accordance with the facts." It may be intentional or negligent, but forms an essential element of the crime and tort of fraud, if the misrepresentation is made with the intent that the other person would believe it and act accordingly.

In simper terms if you lie to close a deal that would not have otherwise been closed, then you are misrepresenting the facts.

This can be challenged under civil contract law, and possibly under criminal fraud as fraud by false representation, which is 10 years jail time in the UK

Forcing employees to stand as punishment could also deemed to be criminal in certain circumstances, like pregnancy, other notified medical condition etc.

Abuse in the work place again is illegal, and employers knowingly participating in such can be held accountable under civil and criminal law.

Forcing employees to stand could also be deemed unfair treatment and in breach of several laws including health and safety.

Criminal or Civil, this is the 21st century and employees deserve the right to work in a safe environment and not be encouraged to lie to make targets set by employers.  While of course it happens, it does not dilute the fact that it is indeed illegal and at times criminal.

In the UK and US the laws have caught up since the days of Boiler Room, and while it is indeed an unofficial training tool, it speaks volumes as to the environment in which people are working, and to the mentality of those accepting this conditions as gospel.

there has been alot of speculation (mostly by GDSers) that it is induvidual salespeople who are giving the company a bad name, but like you say "they are told to lie".

I will prove this, hopefuly by next week, when I gett access to a scanner and scan in my training material which I have just remembered I stil have.

This will include a script, tips on how to tell a more convincing lie and whatever the hell else is in the stuff they gave us.

You make some good impartial points Whistler, and it is possible iStrategy is the new acceptable GDS.
One point is telling already though. Ryan Minshull, 'global sales director' is still using the psuedonym 'Max Ford'. If the company is legitimate, why would senior directors still hide their identities? I could be wrong. Maybe by a massive ironic coincidence , someone by the name of Max Ford actually holds this position, in which case, apologies Max.
Probably it's Ryan 'Giggsy' Minshull though. There is no legitimate company that needs to use psuedonyms. Most of the companies that I have worked for would treat the use of false names to customers by employees as gross misconduct. The usual GDS claim that it is easier to use made up names when dealing with foreign companies is pure bilge.
Some things just don't change.

Neil

Yes Max Ford and Gigsy are one in the same and it is Gigsy (Ryan Minshull) who is heading up iStrategy. (his photo is on the site)

The using of monikers goes way back to the early days of GDS, and I suppose it is something that actually can aid the sales process, as it allows the seller to take on a new role or identity.

Max Ford, is simple and easy to remember, and were he to use his real name it would indeed mean a lot of spelling out and misunderstanding (Minshull) which in any sale process can risk momentum being lost.

One could argue its a way to distance themselves from recourse, that would work in the phones, but using monikers while meeting delegates at events is pretty dumb insofar as imagine getting a job offer or building up a HUGE social following then getting fired, you would run the risk of burning yourself by having to explain that you lied.

Ultimately, if its being used to assist a close by way of creating better communications, then its a harmless white lie.

I guess it depends on the intent, ultimately though long term its going to come back and bite you on the ass, or it could save your ass were you to move to another company who knew about the GDS history and you were the one who closed them. (Awkward Interview that would be)

But that was the GDS of the past, and if it has become legitimised then you do have to question the continued use, frankly if I was Max Ford I would be dumping that name as well as its history.

Lies are an inevitable part of business, some are big and some are small.  I lie myself everyday and if we are all honest with ourselves we most likely all do.

Lies like "we have others interested, you will need to move on this quickly" are common practice, lets be honest here, if you let the customer think too much, you lose them so you create an atmosphere of urgency.

Momentum in sales is crucial, so you do try to remove as many obstacles as possible or you try to create a sense of urgency.

GDS did take it too far, on many occasions.  I guess there is a line to embellishing and outright fraudulent mis-representation.

If you can deliver what you promise, then be proud of that, people will rebook again and again.  

The revolving door nature of GDS was so bad that many came in just to make some cash and then run, I know of so many deals during the Christmas run that were signed off by the salesperson mates just to reach targets and win prizes and get paid big commissions, only then to bugger off leaving GDS chasing ghosts.

Reap what you sow comes to mind.

Right I couldn't get to a scanner so I took three photos, they are photos of one peice of text from the script and two peices of text from supporting material. These three photos are of what I beleive are the only potentially illegal directives to employees. I admit I am a layperson and don't really know if these texts violate UK, US, Australian or Singaporan law, judge for yourselves.


item 1. from the very start of the script: "I was at a meeting with {insert relevant industry, people or title here} last week and one of them shortlisted you as a potential supplier"

Actualy there was no meeting and I dug you up the internet, however as an opening line and to peak their interest it is not a bad ploy and not all that terrible...if you only use it as an opener and an icebreaker.


item 2. from the objection handling guide:"the executives attending are not the decision makers" "actually we pole all of our executives to see what budgets they hold and at what stage of the purchasing cycle they are in so we only invite decision makers who have live budgets and are looking for your product/solution"

In reality, the delegates are called by young flirty girls with impossibly high pitched voices who play to their egos and tell them this whole event is about them and they have been invited to share their extensive knowledge as thaught leaders...bla bla bla bla. The delegates have a completly different and diometrically opposed view of the event as do the sponsors, no one ever asks them about their budgets, purchasing intentions and service needs. And the delegate that I may have name dropped may not even be attending the event!


Item 3. also from the objection handling sheet: "these delegates are there just for a free holiday" "actually each of our delegates pays $2 500 to attend the event"

In a word: [***]! The delegates pay nothing to attend.


Uploaded photo on imageshack:

http://img683.imageshack.us/f/img0016qhe.jpg/


Expectations are a large part of it

If a sponsor is only expecting to meet a delegate, establish a relationship and network with the hopes of doing business in the future then no harm done, despite all the lies and deception.

If however they are expecting to meet someone who has a buget set aside to buy their particular solution then they may be dissapointed, and if that particular person doesn't even show up....well you may end up with a 40 page thread about the guys that set the whole thing up.

when I left GDS many moons ago, after quite a stint there, I ended up with many excellent job offers in a variety of industries, and business types.

I was in high demand from many employers that knew GDS very very well. The training they give is top notch, and if I wasn't a business owner now, doing well, Id still keep GDS on a CV to pursue ops.

Crap sales people have to lie, the decent ones don't.

Marcus evans will also need a long thread of its own here I feel, as will any offshoots of companies set up by people that have moved on from GDS.

Lets make sure everyone like GDS is also flocked in public, to keep things square and fair.

I guess James cravens new enterprise is also a scam and will deserve some good SEO.

As will british publishers, cdm media,

cdm media who do the cio summit is a scam

british publishers is a scam

sterling is a scam

theres many publishers using high pressure sales tactics.