BEWARE! Gi2C IS A POTENTIAL SCAM!

I was/still am devastatingly disappointed with my experience with Gi2C.

Paul Dodds was charming and charismatic. After three 1 hour Skype conversations and writing a detailed description of what I wanted in an internship experience in China: to work in a commercial property sales or valuations team, I was encouraged and assured that they would find my 'ultimate' internship. Paul convinced me to pay my $300, receiving an early bird discount (9 months in advance) and that he would get back to me 'very soon' with a fantastic offer.

Five months went by and I was well into my savings. I wrote to Paul asking of any update. No response. I wrote again a week later, to which he replied 'I'm working on it'.

The very next day my first offer (one or two potential offers) came via email (what a coincidence!). After specifying my desires to work in a commercial (think city buildings) property firm in their sales or valuations department...I was sent an offer to work in the MARKETING team of a small residential hotel. I declined the offer and questioned whether they had me confused with another applicant. No response.

I followed up this query the following week. Again, the very next day I received an offer (ANOTHER coincidence!). This second offer was to work in the MARKETING team of a local, small scale real estate agency. Again, the offer was not even close to what Paul assured me he and his team could arrange.

After a few more emails, the team at Gi2C brushed me off with a 'bad luck' attitude.

I wholeheartedly accept that I may not have been the strongest candidate to apply for commercial property internships in China through Gi2C. But after barraging the team with questions (to which I have never received any response), I am convinced that Gi2C simply do not have any relationships or networks in the commercial property industry of Shanghai or Beijing. And therefore, Paul Dodds and Gi2C were wrongful in convincing me that they could satisfy me desires. They behaved unethically and unprofessionally.

Gi2C refused to refund my $300. I argued that they behaved fraudulently (virtually), in that they knew they could not arrange such an internship, yet, they continued to bait an honest and motivated student.

Not only did I not go to China. I did not receive my $300 refund. Nor an apology. And the opportunity cost of such an event falling through, is that I missed countless other internship opportunities and suddenly my 'window of opportunity' was closed.

I believe Gi2C have established relationships with 3rd and 4th tier small-scale firms, from which both financially profit from these generic 'internships'.

If you dream of a tailored internship, I employ you to please look elsewhere! Don't waste your time here! If you decide to hold conversations with Gi2C, they will undoubtedly assure you that they will find/make something happen for you, specifically. However, this is not the case. You will be offered a generic program offered to countless others.

You have been warned!