I was reading the other day, about the Swiss Blog Awards and was a little surprised, to see that the winner was awarded her prize in Reka cheques. This reminded me of a strange fact - the Swiss officially have three currencies. (five?)

There is, of course hard cash in form of Swiss Franks - nothing to beat them, or so the Swiss think.
If that is so, then why on earth, did they also invent Reka cheques and WIR?

Reka checks are vouchers created by the Schweizerische Reisekasse (Swiss Travel Fund), sold at a discount by many companies and associations to employees or members for the purpose of promoting family tourism within Switzerland. They are accepted as payment medium by many Swiss railway and transport enterprises, hotels and other establishments in the tourist field. Thus said, one would think they were travellers cheques - one would be wrong! You can also use Reka cheques at the petrol station, at the Co-op and in many restaurants.

WIR is an abbreviation for Wirtschaftsring-Genossenschaft, a cooperative based in Basel that has been operating a cashless payment system on the basis of a closed circular flow of money since 1934. WIR cheques are not cheques as defined under Swiss law. WIR booking orders are never paid out in cash, but instead entitle the bearer to acquire goods and services offered by WIR participants by way of exchange. (UBS)
The idea behind both systems, is a closed economy - keep business in Switzerland. Neither currency is accepted outside Switzerland - they have to be spent here. Essentially a sound economic basis, keep imports down and the cash flowing.
How strange then, that when you actually try to use them in Switzerland, people look down their noses at you as if you were trying to pay with counterfeit Turkish Lira!

Reka cheques are held under ultra violet light and rubbed between thumbs, while at the same time you can sense a member of the staff edging towards the door, just in case you try to make a bolt for it.
If you try to pay with WIR, the vendor always starts to haggle 'well, I'll take 30% WIR, but you'll have to give me the rest in Franks' and you can bet your last Dollar, that if he will take 100% WIR, he is pulling the wool over your eyes - either the quality or the price stinks!

I just don't understand why then - if no-one wants the stuff - it is in circulation at all!
Strangely - if you pull out a wad of Euros, you can pay in most shops with them and in Tourist centres you can even pay with Dollars!