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| - Went here to get Chinese yuan for a trip. Fortunately I got my visa elsewhere (Visa Center proved cheap, quick, and professional: http://www.yelp.ca/biz/visa-center-toronto). The BoC was recommended to me as a place to get yaun in Toronto at a favorable rate. I went on a Saturday. As the other reviewer notes, there's a "take a number" machine. You don't find this in many Canadian banks but this system is quite common in Asia. And you appreciate it in Asia. If you've spent any time in lines in Asia, you have probably felt a person behind you standing so close that their genitals are firmly tucked in the warmth of your ass crack and you only wish you were fluent enough in the local language to turn around and ask the person behind you that if he was so content to dock his genitals in your ass crack, could he at least do you the solid of giving you a reach around and a kiss on the mouth? Maybe call me Susan? Whatya say, buddy?
Despite the efficiencies of the take a number system, the tellers here move at a glacial pace. Glacial. Witnessed a couple young Chinese girls wander off and return later to find their number had been called several minutes ago. They tried to jump the queue instead of sucking it up and taking another number (hey, we all didn't go off shopping, we waited patiently for our chance). Ah the Chinese grandmother who then tried to explain to them they weren't jumping in front of anyone else. Ah, the look of confusion on their faces. "But but I'm a little empress back at home. I always get my way. WTF?"
You don't see that at Canadian banks, neither. Snort. Anyway, one extra star for the floor show. But save time and just hit an exchange kiosk on Spandina (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/nhvn-ngan-ha-vn-inc-toronto). Don't change much money to begin with. Just have enough for the airport, transportation to your hotel etc. Maybe exchange $100. You might find you're only saving a matter of 20 yaun ($5). It ain't worth my time.
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