Intangible Assets and Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011
Acquisitions (Details) [Abstract]
Number of locations added via acquisition of The Rental Store, Inc	158
Vendor relationships					$ 7,500,000
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Line Items
Gross carrying amount	82,562,000		73,905,000
Accumulated amortization	71,297,000		68,281,000
Goodwill Roll Forward
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,320,467,000	[1]	1,268,684,000
Additions from acquisitions	3,170,000		55,922,000
Goodwill related to stores sold or closed	(229,000)		(4,320,000)
Post purchase price allocation adjustment	1,944,000		181,000
Goodwill, ending balance	1,325,352,000		1,320,467,000	[1]
Goodwill impairment related to discontinuation of our financial services business			1,800,000
Estimated Amortization Expense (Table Details) [Abstract]
2011	1,103,000
2012	3,528,000
2013	800,000
2014	568,000
2015	568,000
Thereafter	4,698,000
Total	11,265,000
Noncompete Agreements Member
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Line Items
Average Life (years)	3
Gross carrying amount	6,096,000		6,094,000
Accumulated amortization	6,087,000		6,057,000
Customer Relationships Member
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Line Items
Average Life (years)	2
Gross carrying amount	68,928,000		67,811,000
Accumulated amortization	64,784,000		62,224,000
Vendor Relationships [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Line Items
Average Life (years)	11
Gross carrying amount	7,538,000
Accumulated amortization	$ 426,000

[1] Audited