The main reason is number 5 of your list. The dumping could be because of a variety of reasons. The procurement of a fast replacement is essential in the eyes of that school's headmaster. Once an FT is in a school's bad books, that school will want him out the door ASAP!

Number 3 will also be a major reason in my view. Perhaps a school got only a couple of applicants by advertising direct. From a hiring perspective, that's not a good situation.

Better leave it at that for Turnoi's sake. Glad you've found a couple of decent recruiters. They aren't all disreputable despite what some posters claim!

Thousands of FT's wouldn't get posts if it weren't for recruiters. It's okay for Turnoi to go it alone as he is so highly qualified and can cherry-pick I imagine. Also he is fluent in Mandarin and can phone up these schools. And very importantly can read the contracts; the Chinese version which can differ vastly from the English translation. Most of us need a helping hand; as we are no different than the competition, a million other FT's on the dole. Recruiters and agents are almost 'an act of God' in themselves; they help the needy, the estranged from Western Society.