Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 reporting_segments business_groups	Jun. 30, 2011
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Number of Reportable Segments			7
Number of Business Groups			2
Revenues	$ 1,245,818	$ 1,314,474	$ 2,501,474	$ 2,637,543
EBIT	250,903	257,876	512,579	508,870
Reconciling items:
Interest, net	(48,992)	(48,527)	(97,765)	(99,122)
Corporate and other expenses	(44,349)	(45,179)	(98,561)	(85,380)
Restructuring charges and asset impairments	(1,074)	(4,994)	(1,074)	(31,018)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	156,488	159,176	315,179	293,350
Small And Medium Business Solutions [Member]
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	618,964	669,811	1,248,283	1,349,383
EBIT	189,628	202,521	387,796	405,375
North America Mailing [Member]
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	453,484	493,653	914,789	1,002,692
EBIT	167,870	175,786	346,041	355,447
International Mailing [Member]
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	165,480	176,158	333,494	346,691
EBIT	21,758	26,735	41,755	49,928
Enterprise Business Solutions [Member]
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	626,854	644,663	1,253,191	1,288,160
EBIT	61,275	55,355	124,783	103,495
Production Mail [Member]
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	123,067	133,769	238,083	265,375
EBIT	5,594	9,223	8,373	16,397
Software [Member]
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	99,874	99,783	200,201	195,768
EBIT	8,487	9,542	19,179	15,054
Management Services [Member]
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	227,561	240,461	458,191	482,085
EBIT	12,606	19,979	25,921	41,008
Mail Services [Member]
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	140,507	134,273	290,663	278,556
EBIT	27,085	9,819	58,990	20,084
Marketing Services [Member]
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	35,845	36,377	66,053	66,376
EBIT	$ 7,503	$ 6,792	$ 12,320	$ 10,952