Japanese online stores stop shipping Apple products

Some of Japan's biggest online electronics retailers have stopped shipping Apple products, apparently at the request of the Cupertino, California-based company.

Yodobashi.com and Biccamera.com, the online outlets for two of Japan's largest electronics chains, still list Apple products at their sites but advise customers they must come into the store to pick them up.

"At the request of Apple, Yodobashi.com is no longer able to sell [Apple] products," says a message when customers try to buy an iPod or a Macintosh computer. "Apple products must be delivered through a Yodobashi Camera store."

Amazon Japan, which doesn't have brick-and-mortar retail outlets, continues to sell Apple products online.

Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.