Puzzler on Prom Dresses and Textbooks

Why can buying a prom dress be legally similar to buying a textbook?

We’ll send some Freakonomics schwag to the best comment post in the next 24 hours.

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COMMENTS: 93

  1. Rojo says:

    Because new versions come out so often that the one you own becomes worthless in a year? Not that you use textbooks or prom dresses much after a certain period of time.

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  2. Todd says:

    My best guess is that both can be used as “education expenses” from a tax perspective.

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  3. CM says:

    Both will only be used once and end up on a bedroom floor somewhere.

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  4. Nosybear says:

    Easy: In both cases, the price plummets after the first use even though the utility is not diminished (minor markings in the book, minor stains on the dress, both acceptable for future use….).

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  5. Eric M. Jones says:

    The both come with lots of bundled material?

    (There are laws now being implemented to restrict how this can be done).

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  6. DanC says:

    Once you spill beer on it, you cannot return it.

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  7. Paul says:

    Because both items are over priced, used once in a lifetime and sit in the back of your closet for the rest of eternity

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  8. EJW says:

    Because you intend to buy it, use it for a limited period of time, and then not use it again.

    Legally, I’m sure this has to do with whether the item can be returned for a full refund.

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