But was it a book from this "new imprint" or just a HarperCollins book?
It makes sense for this new imprint to discourage bookstore orders, if they plan to rely completely on Internet sales. It's the bit about "sharing profits" with writers but not paying advances that I wonder about. I'd be interested to hear the details of that.
I'd have to double check, already added it to the random library. Box of multiple books to a professor who no longer works with us. Publishers complain about book buyers and comped copies but their reps are often the major breakdown quite frankly.