The Change Group California

Run from this place. They charged me 15% of the amount.
Plus, they do not show the rates and the fees are hiden. You will just get the surprise when you check the bill. I feel like beeing ripped off.
I will defintely never come back here.
Walk few metters away in the mall on market street and fifth, you will find travelex which is ok.

They dont accept bills because they look worn out… im like wtf? I only go here because its near work and had to exchange money from my vacation from the Philippines. The lady there said she cant accept it because it looks washed or worn out. Wtf? I kept telling them I got it from the exchange there so it can’t be fake. Maybe thats her damn excuse. God!

Whenever I would have some currency to exchange, this was my go to place. Never had a problem with customer service, and was never charged for a fee (check in with Unilocal!). Up to my knowledge, I’d give this place 5 stars.
However, today I decided to check other places out. After a few calls, I ended up at Mechanic Bank. Changed my life.
I had 50 pounds to exchange and wanted to know what I would get. The Change Group California said I would get $ 53. Ok. Then I called Mechanic Bank and they said I would get back $ 70 and change… HUGE difference. Even though Mechanic Bank closed at 5, they pointed me to their location at the Westfield mall, a small kiosk just by Aldo behind the escalators and is open until 8:30.
The Change Group California never again.
Mechanic Bank: 415.249.0321
Westfield kiosk: 415.677.4040

I felt burnt after dealing with these guys and would not recommend them. Here’s how it went:
I’m an Australian who flew in to SF on a Saturday. I avoided exchanging cash at the airport, hoping to get a better rate in the city. The Change Group was the first place I tried. I’d done my due diligence and checked the open market (internet) rates in advance. I was selling a couple of currencies and at the internet rates, should have received $ 1000USD total, give or take a few bucks.
The cashier was friendly (though in hindsight, probably just slimy). I asked for a quote on my money and handed it to him (I should have held on to it before getting the quote). He counted it up, ran the numbers and said (I SWEAR he said it) $ 956. I was expecting to pay more than the online rate and i was happy enough with that, so I went ahead. He shuffled some papers, counted out money and hands me $ 756!
I counted it, looked at the receipt and objected that he’d just said $ 956. He then made up some crap about the intercom (we were talking through glass) not working properly. I told him that I never would have agreed to $ 756 if I’d heard it properly, and I asked him for a cost breakdown. He told me the rates and that there was also a service fee of 14% (!). I made it clear I wanted to cancel the transaction and then he started to negotiate. The 756 magically turned into 850. I told him I needed to run some numbers, got out my phone and checked the internet rates again. I then said I wanted to cancel and shop around. He then said that they could ‘generously’ wave the service fee altogether, and offered me 900. At that point, I foolishly said OK. I got less screwed that I would have if I hadn’t negotiated but i still lost 10%, which is more than I would have if I’d changed my money at my bank before leaving home. Who knows if it was worse than what I would’ve got at the airport.
The only saving grace at this place (and they only reason I’m giving 2 stars instead of 1) was that they were open on a Saturday. Feeling like I might have just been screwed, I wanted to get a quote on the same amount from another exchanger, in the hope that I might discover I couldn’t have done better elsewhere. Nothing else was open.
I feel like I paid $ 50 for a valuable lesson: 1. Read online reviews first. and check open market rates. 2. Exchange at a big bank and ORDER ONLINE first, then pick up the cash at the branch on a week day; the online rate is better than the in-​person rate. 3. If you have to go to one of these other places in person, NEGOTIATE and be tough about it.

I’m suspicious of the positive reviews on here… I’m not sure how someone can be ok with being ripped off. However, I am sure that if you took their first offer they would do whatever it took to get you to come back to them.
I attempted to change 200 euros here, they first quote was 212 dollars plus fee’s to change it (the proper exchange rate was 267.00). When I balked at this price they agent said «well what rate did you have in mind?». Yes you can haggle with them, but the rate only improved slightly and I still was looking at a substantial loss.
Exchange places are hard to find in SF, you can try some of the larger nicer hotels or just bite the bullet and head down to the Airport… however, avoid this place at all costs, their business model is to screw you out of as much money as they can.

After seeing the number of stars here I actually went and double checked my receipt to be sure I had the right business-​I wouldn’t want to diss a business in error. But, no, this is the right one. I changed 32 000 Japanese Yen for dollars and lost 25% of the value of the money on the transaction. Not only did they charge a 15% «service fee», they offered an exchange rate that was significantly less than the going rate (90.2 yen to dollar, instead of the actual rate of 81 per dollar. To add insult to injury, there was an additional fee of $ 5.95). All of this added up to a 25% commission, much worse than any bank or airport has ever charged me. The location is convenient, but next time I will certainly do more research to find a fair price for a necessary service.

I’ve had no problem with The Exchange Group. After my initial five dollar fee for my first transaction, they gave me one of their business cards with one of their names upon it and thereafter not charged me any fee whatsoever.
I have read some of the compalints here from other people. Well, I have never experienced any rudemess, and insofar as having a kiosk by the pavement, so? I am certain that of the thousands of transactions daily, that no one has been ripped off by any of the passing throng behind them. (At least I hope not)!
So I give them the five red stars here! In fact I am at this writing, about to ring them up. (Only used their Powel Street address, never been to the Fisherman’s Wharf address yet).

I had a precise quantity of foreign currency to exchange and I called The Change Group to ask them how much they would give me for that amount. They quoted me a specific figure that I would have in my pocket after all transaction fees. I repeated the figures back over the phone to ensure everything was correct, and they confirmed. I said fine and made a 30 minute trip down to do the transaction, and when I got there the they tried to give me more than 20% less than what was promised over the phone. Crude bait & switch, lacking any explanation or even the customary smoke & mirrors to justify the discrepancy.
This was a very straightforward transaction in which they promised more than 20% more over the phone than they were actually going to pay. Wasted my time & money. This is a currency exchange company — — Hello — — if they can’t get this right, what can they do right?

Not the most ethical business in the world. Its basically their job to convince you that your money is worth less than it really is, thus maximizing their profits.
Everyone here works on commission, so yes, they are out to get you.
They do charge service fees, but will not mention a word about it unless you ask.
Unlike the banks, you do not have to be a customer, or previously established patron to change currency here.
The rates are typically within reason & comparable to your local bank.
If you try to change smaller amounts of money, they either won’t do it, or will give you the absolute worst deal imaginable.
NEGOTIATE! That is the only way to win, don’t be afraid to walk away and try somewhere else if you fail here.

Changed less than $ 100 worth of Chinese yuan into US dollars here for a rate 25%(!) less than the one posted on yahoo finance!
The employee refused to tell me the rate (?) but insisted on counting out my money first and only then telling me what she could give me for it. Uggh.

Rude. I called in to ask about their service and spoke with a lady. This was the conversation that went down.
Me: «Do you have Egyptian Pound?»
Her: «Yes we have it.»
Me: «What is the exchange rate?»
Her: «I cannot tell you, you will have to come here to find out.»
Me: «What? I have to go all the way to downtown, but it takes me an hour to get in, can you just give me the information please?»
Her: «No. It doesn’t matter anyways we don’t have it.» Than proceeds to hang up on me. If you do not care for my business than I will just go somewhere else.

You may want to call in advance to see if they have your desired currency or if they can order it for you. I arrived cold seeking Rupees and they only had about $US10 worth in stock. I guess I’ll have to convert when I arrive in India.
I did exchange $US40 for 20UK Pounds with a $ 3.22 fee [works out to a rate of 1: 0.4627].

I’m heading to Europe in May and since the exchange rate of the Euro to the Dollar is now 1 Euro to $ 1.58, I wanted to research where I could get the best exchange rate.
I use to use my ATM card in Europe. It was convenient, BUT… do you know that transaction fees, ATM charges and conversion fees range from 3−8%!!! Oh no! The conversion is bad enough.
I called AMEX, their rate was $ 1.68 to 1 Euro with a $ 5.00 fee, Thomas Cook was $ 1.68 with a $ 15.00 fee. My bank charged $ 1.68 to the Euro plus a 3% fee! They actually advised me to go somewhere else! The airport is even worst!
Then I happened to stumble upon the Change Group on Powell. They had a great rate and if you exchange more than $ 500, they waive the fee. The rate I got on April 8 was 1 Euro to $ 1.6126! All denominations are available. If you’re worried about carrying too many bills… ask for 500 or 200 Euro bills. Change them to small denominations when you’re there and put them in your money belt for safekeeping! What a deal!!! Its the best deal i found so far!
I’m all for saving money!

I’m lukewarm on this place…
The location is essentially a kiosk which means that you are physically standing out on the street, with your back to foot traffic behind you, while it is announced over the loudspeaker how much money is being exchanged between you and the nice people behind the bulletproof glass. I don’t know about you, call me paranoid, but I wasn’t too comfortable having my bidness advertised to the world about how much money I was getting back and walking away with.
I could keep going but that’s the major gripe I have with the place.

A good place to get currency exchanged before a trip. They have good hours (good for a procrastinator like me who rushes around the day before the flight to get this stuff done) and their rates aren’t too bad compared to what you might encounter at your destination (when I went to Paris the rates were ridiculous), though they could be better.
The best thing about them is that you can try to negotiate a better rate (if you’re buying dollars) or try to get them to waive the service fee (if you’re selling dollars) — shhhh.
I guess an issue I had with this place is that it’s on such a busy street and right on the sidewalk — nothing that can be helped I suppose, but I hate flashing large amounts of cash in such an exposed location!

Currency exchange at its best! Joan (manager) and her friendly staff do their best to buy and sell foreign currency at the best possible rates. I cannot emphasize enough how helpful and courteous they are behind that one inch bullet-​proof glass. I’ve bought various currencies from Joan as I’ve been expanding my collection. There is a service fee but the rates and fees are both negotiable. The best part about an independent exchange is the negotiation process. They WANT your business, unlike the huge banks around the corner who don’t deal much in foreign currency and could care less that you may need smaller notes or even coin before traveling abroad.
Apparently there is another location at Pier 39 and if needed I wouldn’t hesitate doing business there. I’m a very satisfied customer and would recommend this place to anyone!

Come on, stop staring at those etchings of trumpet players, swamp birds and deposed dictators, empty your shorts and turn that $#%* back in. Mexico worked hard to print its currency and they need it back.
Your bank has a better rate. But do you really want to ride the escalator on Monday, twenty fluorescent minutes in an armless chair stained of corporate desolation, a flickering windowless office with sea lions mating in badly framed posters? All that for sixty bucks?
Naw, come down to Union Square instead. The Change Group offers the most cheerful walk-​up counter, conveniently and professionally open until 8 on Saturdays, your last opportunity to fund your own bar tab if otherwise out of american $love. Small sips only please — their pour size for dollars is 10% downside of market.
There’s a service fee but you’re welcome to haggle that like it’s Tijuana. Hella beats the payroll advance and pawning your roommate’s stereo.