University of Delaware custom textbooks are created for very specific classes offered at the University.  Since a custom is only being used at one school, it does not have nation-wide demand. Therefore, unless the book is being used again at University of Delaware, it has no value anywhere else.   The end result?  Bookstores cannot buy these books back from you at the buyback counter.

The only way you will be able to get value for your custom textbook is if it is being used for an upcoming semester. The problem with this though, is the fact that the publishers will create a new custom edition almost EVERY semester. This renders most custom books worthless to any wholesaler or bookstore at the end of each semester.

Please be aware of this when you purchase your textbooks.  Ask your professors if these books are absolutely necessary.    Unless students begin to voice their unhappy opinions about the usage of such books,  then their use is expected to increase.

In some cases there may be a justification for some of these books.  In many other cases, we have seen abusive publishers take advantage of the silent student body by sticking 1 chapter of a workbook in the back of the main textbook so they could give the book a different ISBN and label it as a custom University of Delaware textbook.

The bottom line is that you should stay informed about your book purchases and dont be afraid to ask questions before you buy these books.