CFO says Apple banned online sales

Costco is ultimately phasing out all Apple products from its stores, the company's CFO has announced. Speaking during a financial conference call, Richard Galanti described the plan as a mutual agreement. The only cited reason is online sales; Galanti notes that Apple was forbidding Costco from selling products online, unlike other some other third-party vendors.

"In the past couple months, we agreed to wind down," Galanti elaborated during the call. An Apple spokeswoman, Amy Bessette, states that the company has no comment.

In October, reports first claimed that Costco was dropping iPods, and then iTunes gift cards. Sources have suggested that the retailer is upset over not getting the iPad. Many other major American chains now have the iPad, including Best Buy, Target, and direct Costco rival Sam's Club. Even TJ Maxx briefly joined in sales, though it was not an authorized iPad dealer.

by MacNN Staff