"A Beach Day Detour"

A Beach Day Detour: Psychological Warfare in Paradise

Yesterday, after a blissful day at the beach in Jimbaran Bay in Bali, Shay, the boys, and I stumbled into an unexpected "adventure"—a three-hour high-pressure sales pitch that turned out to be as much an education in psychological tactics as it was an exercise in patience. As a psychologist, I couldn’t help but dissect the whole experience, and honestly, it was fascinating to reflect on the subtle (and not-so-subtle) manipulation techniques they employed. Here’s a breakdown of what happened and a little analysis for anyone who might find themselves lured into the same scenario.

The Bait: It all began innocently enough: a friendly Balinese man handed us “scratchie” tickets on the street, promising that we could win one of five incredible prizes: an iPhone, iPad, $5000, an iWatch, or a week's stay in their villas anywhere in the world. The catch? We’d have to sit through a “short, one-hour” presentation.

Psychological Insight: The Scarcity Effect
This setup leverages scarcity—the idea that you're one of the “lucky few” who could win something extraordinary. By dangling desirable, limited prizes, they create a sense of urgency and exclusivity.

The Setting: Luxury and Familiarity
Once at the posh villas, they immediately handed the boys company-branded t-shirts (how thoughtful, considering we were all in wet swimmers). Enter Corina, our “consultant,” an effervescent middle-aged woman who “just so happens” to live on the Gold Coast and be Danish—just like me! What are the odds? She ushered us into a sleek room with massive screens flashing idyllic holiday destinations.

Psychological Insight: The Reciprocity Principle & Relatability
The free shirts? Reciprocity at work—they give a little, you feel indebted. Corina’s shared “background” is a classic mirroring tactic to build trust and rapport.

The Dance of Agreement: We’re oohing and ahhing over their impossibly perfect resorts. Corina repeatedly asks, “Isn’t this amazing?”—a question designed to elicit agreement. By the time the manager, Cameron (a charming Kiwi), arrives to “approve” us, we’ve nodded more times than bobbleheads.

Psychological Insight: The Foot-in-the-Door Technique
This is all about incremental commitments. Every time we say “yes,” we’re subtly reinforcing a psychological investment in their product.

The “Manager” Parade: After Cameron, another enthusiastic manager swoops in with a laptop to show us “special deals.” There’s a story about a guy in Mexico who needed eight villas for a wedding, and more incredible discounts trotted out like parade floats. We are now at least 2 hours in!! Shay is now yawning, the kids are restless, and my phone is dead—perfect timing for their pièce de résistance: the big pitch.

Psychological Insight: Overload and Fatigue
High-pressure sales tactics often hinge on decision fatigue. The longer they keep you engaged, the more mentally exhausted you become, making it harder to think critically.

The Offer
Finally, the deal: a 25-year contract for $27,695, payable upfront or over six months. This was of course much cheaper than the typical fee of 38,000. We balk, politely stall, and get ushered to a new table to “talk it over.” When we clarify that we’re not interested, their sunny demeanour dims. Apparently, the “deal” is off if we walk away!

Psychological Insight: The Anchoring Effect and Guilt-Tripping
By starting with an exorbitant offer, any smaller amount seems reasonable in comparison. The guilt tactics are meant to trigger compliance—after all, they’ve spent three hours on us.

The “Prize”
After all that, we leave with...drumroll...a one-week stay in one of their villas (outside of Bali, of course). Oh, the irony—the company is called “Karma Group.” Let’s just say I’m channelling my inner karma by writing this post as a public service announcement.

The experience was an almost textbook demonstration of psychological principles: scarcity, reciprocity, decision fatigue, anchoring, and more. It was compelling in the moment, exhausting in retrospect, and deeply manipulative throughout. For anyone who hasn’t been through one of these pitches before—consider this your warning: keep your wits about you, and maybe, just maybe, keep walking when the “scratchie” guy comes your way.

(Also, still no new iPhone.)

"it was great property,good…"

it was great property,good food,swimming pool and main in rush dayes of crismas and new year got good service

"We experienced the Karma Karnak 7 day from 19th to 26th December 2024…"

We experience the Karma Karnak 7 day cruise while visiting Egypt for the first time. We had a great time on the cruise. The cruise team members looked after us very well. The only challenge was the size of the room for double which was very small and enough space to move luggage around. Also, the boat was a bit old and hence leakage issues in the bathroom were a problem. I would recommend Karma to get a newer boat since these issues should not create a shadow over the overall great experience that we have had on the cruise.
The spread of food , especially for us vegetarians, was really good. The cooks, waiters etc. were very friendly and took up suggestions. The reception desk was prompt. The KArma team of Aditya, Mahendra & Vaishali were approachable for any issues.
The sight seeing tours were optional. They were a bit expensive compared to the others but the handling of each of these was excellent - both the guides - Mohammed and Mohsin were very good with the history details of each place.
The overall program w.r.t to ge-togethers was very well done which made the entire group gel together very well. The Christmas party, Nubian dance, Belly dancing etc. was fun
i definitely recommend the Karma Cruise to all the members

"Karma group holiday SCAM"

Hi! I wanted to alert tourists visiting Goa about the Karma Group.

They have people stationed on the streets near beaches and Aguada fort with scratch cards promising free prizes. Once you "win," they tell you that you need to visit one of their properties to claim your prize. They say it’s part of promoting their new hotel.

**SCAM ALERT:** They take you to their property, where they run a high-pressure sales pitch for hotel memberships. They try to sell you a membership costing **₹6.54 lakh per year for 25 years**, with a **₹48 k maintenance fee additional** hidden in the fine print. The process takes over three hours, during which they aggressively push you to sign up. If you decline, they become dismissive and even hostile.

I’ve never experienced such aggressive tactics in my life—it was shocking to see a hotel company operate like this! While you might eventually get the "prize" they promise, is it really worth ruining your holiday and enduring this ordeal?

Don’t fall for their tricks. Shame on you, Karma Group, for preying on tourists and ruining vacations with these scams!

"What a fantastic place for our stay."

What a fantastic place for our stay.
We stayed in the main house and it was like being in a mansion.
All the staff were extremely friendly and helpful.

"**Review of Karma Bayon"

**Review of Karma Bayon, Siem Reap, Cambodia**

We had an absolutely delightful experience at Karma Bayon, Siem Reap. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel incredibly welcome with their warm and attentive hospitality. The check-in process was seamless, setting the tone for an unforgettable stay.

Our room allocation was perfect and thoughtfully adorned with belated birthday wishes for our friend Nambirajan, a valued member of Karma Hotels. This heartfelt gesture was a wonderful surprise for our friend and left a lasting impression on all of us.

The room itself was immaculate, spacious, and equipped with every comfort we could ask for. The plush bedding, wide-screen TV, complimentary coffee, electric kettle, and a well-stocked fridge with snacks and drinks made it feel like a home away from home. The luxurious bathroom, complete with a rainfall shower, was a true highlight. However, the standout feature for us was the elegant water Jacuzzi—it added a touch of indulgence to our stay. The daily housekeeping service was meticulous yet unobtrusive.

The resort's facilities were exceptional. With three stunning pools (one temperature-controlled), a sauna, and a serene spa, every corner of the property was designed for relaxation and enjoyment. We particularly loved the thoughtful touches, like poolside drink service and the artistic presentation of breakfast served on decorative plates. The availability of bicycles was an added bonus, allowing us to explore the riverside and the vibrant streets of Siem Reap with ease and style.

The location was ideal, just steps away from the bustling heart of Siem Reap, offering a perfect blend of convenience and tranquility.

In summary, our stay at Karma Bayon far exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend this resort to anyone seeking a luxurious and rejuvenating escape in Cambodia.

"The overall experience was soo cool 😎…"

The overall experience was soo cool 😎 all the staff and the all the properties aree we maintained and have very family kinda of nature soo loved the experience 😊

"a great vacation at boat lagoon "

a great vacation at boat lagoon
had a wonderful stay and enjoyed the Thai food along the waterfront
it was a unique experience to see all those huge boats in the lagoon

"We enjoyed a lot in jaisalamer tour in…"

We enjoyed a lot in jaisalamer tour in tent . It was a great experience to live in tent . All facility was awesome in tent. Tasty food was there . All rajsthan culture program was just wonderful . Overall nice experience in karna golden camp tour

"Karma Kandara by the beach"

The location of the resort, the resort itself is 5 stars, people are courteous, services are good but can be better for many amenities. However the overall holiday was wonderful.