Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	$ 836,640	$ 844,589
Reconciling items:
Interest, net	(38,650)	(34,216)
Unallocated corporate expenses	(55,156)	(57,767)
Restructuring charges and asset impairments, net	(2,082)	(6,933)
Acquisition and disposition-related expenses	0	(3,120)
Income before income taxes	96,549	99,664
Provision for income taxes	31,416	37,024
Net income	65,133	62,640
North America Mailing
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	355,578	371,453
International Mailing
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	93,058	104,986
Small & Medium Business Solutions
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	448,636	476,439
Production Mail
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	88,955	87,425
Presort Services
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	132,677	127,396
Enterprise Business Solutions
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	221,632	214,821
Software Solutions
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	78,220	77,922
Global Ecommerce
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	88,152	75,407
Digital Commerce Solutions
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	166,372	153,329
Operating Segments
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
EBIT	192,437	201,700
Operating Segments \| North America Mailing
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
EBIT	141,008	160,831
Operating Segments \| International Mailing
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
EBIT	13,269	11,176
Operating Segments \| Small & Medium Business Solutions
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
EBIT	154,277	172,007
Operating Segments \| Production Mail
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
EBIT	8,964	6,824
Operating Segments \| Presort Services
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
EBIT	30,717	28,910
Operating Segments \| Enterprise Business Solutions
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
EBIT	39,681	35,734
Operating Segments \| Software Solutions
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
EBIT	2,749	(2,572)
Operating Segments \| Global Ecommerce
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
EBIT	(4,270)	(3,469)
Operating Segments \| Digital Commerce Solutions
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
EBIT	$ (1,521)	$ (6,041)

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