Happy Currency Exchange Inc.

Don't ask "How much $X can I get for $Y currency? " I did this and the girl behind the counter made up her own rate. I called her out on this since they post their rates outside their door and she casually ignored what she just tried to pull and gave me their actual rate.

I ended up being $0.16 CAD short for an even 220 EUR. Asked if they could round the 219.84 EUR up since I was out of change. They said no, so I left and exchanged at Crystal Currency Exchange across the street.

This place should be called Unhappy Currency Exchange.

I've done currency exchange at this Happy Currency branch for almost a decade. They have decent rates for USD, Euro, and Asian currencies. I can only speak for my own experiences here, but Happy Currency has better rates than the bank. Staff were quick and professional.

I've utilized the Burnaby location several times. Very efficient. Best rate on US currency. Quick. Detailed. No problems.

Got a good rate for my €. And I was able to cash the cheque without issues. Quick and easy. Thank you.

In my experience currency exchange shops generally either operate on a buy-sell spread model (earn a spread between what they buy and sell a currency for), a commission model (charge a flat fee that increases at given hurdle amounts), or some combination of the two. My experience has been that shops with "tight" buy-sell spreads (e.g. Buy EUR at 1.46 and sell EUR at 1.48) charge a commission to compensate for the tight spread and those with no commission often have much larger spreads (e.g. Buy EUR at 1.41 and sell EUR at 1.54).

Happy Currency Exchange keeps it simple by charging no commission and offering very competitive spreads.

Other points:

- don't believe there is a minimum $ - I had less than $50 CAD equivalent in HUF - didn't matter.

- I had a few small bills which they took without issue (I've heard some places wont take bills under a given denomination)

All in all excellent, friendly service.

They are good but just be careful when you have large amounts to exchange. Count your bills carefully before you give it to them. I gave them a stack of bills and they counted it. Turned out it was 100$ less than I had counted several times beforehand. I didnt have any way to prove what they did behind their high counters and I realized I lost my money right at that point. It is a common trick with these people to slip a bill and make it fall behind the desk. Just a warning to be careful.

Went in Nov. 23 at 5: 45pm. There wasn't any customers at all but the girl was trying to rush. We were trying to exchange to get $100 USD. We were never asked how we wanted our $100. She just charged me the amount in CAD and chucked a $100 USD bill on the counter. As soon as i saw thst i asked if i could get some $1, $5 and so on. Just some variety. She then spoke out very loud and rude "What? " To my boyfriend and rolled her eyes rolled her eyes as if it was so much trouble for her. At this point she already charged us too. Im sorry, but she should've asked in the first place. I have never been to a currency exchange place and not have the person at the counter asking the most basic of questions and minimal courtesy and respect at least. I wish I couldve find out whst her name was but how convenient, she wasnt wearing at name tag. Asian girl, short hair working st 5: 45pm on Nov. 23rd. Note to self, never come back here if I'm gonna be disrespected.

I am a long time customer with Happy Currency Exchange.

I went to the Richmond location to do a money transfer. I was in the middle of transaction. A middle-aged woman who served me suddenly left and served with another client for money exchange. I waited for her about 10 minutes. I told her you should let me finish my case first then next.but she said "I shouldn't come here anymore because I didn't like the way she did. " And she told me to find another agency! She told me again don't come back! At that time there was not any customers and that she was very disrespectful to me!

It is a poor customer service and bad employee!

Professional staff, excellent exchange rates (way better than the bank). Will visit them again!

The staff are rude and unprofessional. They should get trained. Also, the rates are relatively higher compared with other exchange places and even banks!

High rates! Efficient staff!

I prefer going to this place rather on malls.
The filipina staff is awesome and soo fast doing her stuff. Props to this place!

Went there on Saturday around 5: 20 pm. Easily found metered street parking right in front of the store. There was no line and I got $400 CAD changed to Indian Rupee in less than a minute. Rate was pretty good. I drove away without paying without putting any coins in the meter.