Shopping in another country?

Has anyone done any shops outside of USA? Is anyone aware and willing to share any information about companies that operate in Australia? I am looking at a study abroad program and will need to figure out what my options are for work there. If I do find a mystery shopping company would I be considered a person working in USA or would I need working visa?

Oh and any companies that do shops in Europe, which countries? Thank you for any information you are willing to share.

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

I've shopped in Canada, UK, France, Spain, Portugal, and the UAE.

I've had the most luck in building multiple shops in Canada and the UK. The others, they were just a few, but I was there anyway for work and it was all I could find and set up before. (Portugal was one single shop!)

------------------------------------------------
Plan the work. Work the plan.

I have done shops at the airport in Mexico City. I can't see how one could do a shop at a store in a country where the clerks do not speak English unless you are fluent in the local language. I have tried for shops in Singapore without any luck.

I do see occasionally see shops at US miliary bases in various countries, but I don't have access to them.

Actually, I was offered a credit union on a miliatary base in the US today and had to tell the scheduler (who was in the Philipines, I think) that I couldn't get onto the base to do it no matter what the bonus was. She seemed very surprised that I couldn't just tell the MPs that I wanted to go to the credit union. I have done CUs in restricted company office buildings when they have a convoluted procudure to get in, but I was unwilling to take a chance on talking my way onto the joint base in NJ.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

If it's McGuire/Dix, then civilians can get on with a day pass in order to conduct business there. I was temporarily assigned there and saw it happen all the time. Some were even just buying stuff off Craigslist and had to pick up from people who were living in base housing.

------------------------------------------------
Plan the work. Work the plan.

Bird -

I wish I had known. It was indeed the McGuire part of JB McGuire/Dix/Lakehurst.

Did you ever get to Lakehurst to see the building where they stored the Hindenburg? It was the largest enclosed space in the world until they built the Vertical Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. I grew up east of there and am driving past it tomorrow. Back in the 60's, they used to have air shows there, including the Blue Angels. Driving onto NAS Lakehurst was a formality; they just looked at you, smiled, and waved you in. However, driving onto NAD Earle to the northeast was another matter. Too much live ammo stored and buried in the ground.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Yeah, you just stop at the gate and tell them you need to visit the credit union. Your sponsor will be the business (the bank) rather than a person. They'll ask you to pull over into a carport thing nearby (Visitor's Pavillion) and they'll write you out a card that you place on your dash, with an expiration date and time. Sometimes full day passes, sometimes ones that expire in two hours. Takes about five minutes tops, and that's if they search your vehicle.

------------------------------------------------
Plan the work. Work the plan.

I considered doing shops in the USA but then realized I'd probably be considered as "working in the USA without a work visa". I made enquiries with US Immigration at the border and was informed that was exactly the case. Since I don't want to risk my ability to cross the border into the USA, I have decided no American shops for me. It's a shame as I was really looking forward to making a long tour through the US, shopping as I went to cut down on expenses. Oh well

Just thinking about this....if I live in Canada, and my boss sends me to the US to do something.... Say I work for a department store and we want to see how US companies display certain things, would I need a work visa to do that job?

***************************
Thanks to all the forum members!

I'm no expert but I'd say yes. It would definitely be worth a call to US Immigration to find out.

Has anyone done shops in EU (Non-UK)?

Silver Certified ~ Shopping all of Toronto and beyond

Bena,
I think that you may want to follow-up with some US govt. publication rather than just assume that the person at the border got it totally right.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

good point, walesmaven.

Hehe. I was waiting in federal court to testify when another case was being heard. The witness stated that she "just took the cop's advice." (which had gotten her into her present pickle) The judge leaned waaay over the bench and said, "Don't ever take legal advice from the police again!"

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I think the case of a company sending you over, they would apply for the work visa if necessary. If it's just for a meeting, you probably shouldn't mention anything about "work" or "business". They will detain you in a room until they figure out whether you need a visa or not. Not fun. The US government doesn't even have to have a valid reason for refusal, if they suspect you are trying to work without a permit (even if it's just going to a sister store in the US for a few days) you will most likely not be granted entry. I speak from personal experience and the experience of other people I know. Best person to contact would be an immigration lawyer in your home country that specializes in US immigration and visas.

Silver Certified ~ Shopping all of Toronto and beyond

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Shopping in another country?

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine