I too got a call(March 2008) on a Saturday from Casa retreat located below Timex Showroom Annanagar East Chennai saying that I was one of the lucky winner 8, 000 and asked me to come with my wife to collect 3 free gifts(Digital clock, Icecream glass bowl & Rs1000 gift voucher). When I entered the room I found 10 tables where couples like us are talking with casa people. They were not sure themselves how we were selected to receive free gifts. The conversion initially started on a personal note, like what our hobbies were, how we spent our free time, the first film we saw together and so on.
Then the real story started. They had packages for 7days and 4 days trips in India for that you had to make a payment of 28500 or 15500 respectively and it was for 3 years. Every year you get a chance to make a trip in India. After 2 hrs of this meeting I said I want one day time to discuss with my colleagues and check for information online. For that they said the offer was valid for one day, and they questioned us why couldn’t we take our own decision. I told them my wife’s company had a tie-up with Sterling Resorts and offered tickets at 5% the original cost without any yearly payment. Even then they do all the possible ways by forcing you mentally. I found that almost on each table people were arguing with these guys, but we couldn’t hear them properly because they play music at heavy volume. Finally the moment came to take the free gifts, they offered us. Surprisingly it was 3 glass bowls! Which wont cost more than Rs100 For that I spent 3 hrs of my valuable Sunday time.
So be careful when you get a call in future from CASA RETREAT.