Intangible Assets and Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	$ 88,674,000	$ 85,458,000
Accumulated amortization	79,705,000	77,235,000
Weighted average amortization period - acquired intangible assets	22 months
Estimated Amortization Expense (Table Details) [Abstract]
2014	2,704,000
2015	1,491,000
2016	644,000
2017	568,000
2018	445,000
Thereafter	3,117,000
Total	8,969,000	8,223,000
Changes in Recorded Goodwill (Table Details) [Abstract]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,344,665,000	1,339,125,000
Additions from acquisitions	28,282,000	6,874,000
Goodwill related to stores sold or closed	(9,038,000)	(1,221,000)
Post purchase price allocation adjustments	640,000	(113,000)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,364,549,000	1,344,665,000	1,339,125,000
Goodwill impairment charge in International segment	1,100,000	1,000,000
Acquisitions (Table Details) [Abstract]
Number of stores acquired remaining open	47	6	26
Number of stores acquired that were merged with existing stores	38	31	71
Number of kiosk locations acquired	0	0	5
Number of transactions	47	19	19
Total purchase price	41,236,000	13,258,000	26,747,000
Acquisition amounts allocated to goodwill	28,282,000	6,874,000	18,755,000
Acquisition amounts allocated to rental merchandise	11,843,000	4,380,000	6,023,000
Acquisition amounts allocated to property and other assets	910,000	845,000	0
Acquisition amounts allocated to liabilities	0	0	(884,000)
Acquired goodwill, expected tax deductible amount	28,282,000
Intangible Assets and Acquisitions (Details) [Abstract]
Aggregate amortization expense	3,559,000	4,668,000	4,285,000
Amortization period for acquired customer relationships (in months)	21 months
Amortization period for vendor relationships minimum (in years)	7 years
Amortization period for vendor relationships (in years)	15 years
Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	6,337,000	6,104,000
Accumulated amortization	6,102,000	6,098,000
Average life	3 years
Acquisitions (Table Details) [Abstract]
Acquisition amounts allocated to intangibles	235,000	0	10,000
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	74,799,000	71,816,000
Accumulated amortization	71,899,000	70,001,000
Average life	2 years
Acquisitions (Table Details) [Abstract]
Acquisition amounts allocated to intangibles	2,959,000	1,160,000	2,843,000
Vendor Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	7,538,000	7,538,000
Accumulated amortization	1,704,000	1,136,000
Average life	11 years
Core Us [Member]
Changes in Recorded Goodwill (Table Details) [Abstract]
Goodwill, ending balance	1,310,100,000	1,289,200,000
Acceptance Now [Member]
Changes in Recorded Goodwill (Table Details) [Abstract]
Goodwill, ending balance	54,400,000	54,400,000
International [Member]
Changes in Recorded Goodwill (Table Details) [Abstract]
Goodwill, ending balance		$ 1,100,000