Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Information (Details) [Abstract]
Number of retail installment sales stores	40		40
Number of rent-to-own stores in Canada	32		32
Number of rent-to-own stores in Mexico	67		67
ColorTyme's royalty fee percentage, minimum			2.00%
ColoTyme's royalty fee percentage, maximum			4.00%
Litigation expense			$ 0	$ 2,800
Restructuring charge	0	4,933	0	4,933
Impairment charge			0	7,320
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	749,698	698,253	1,584,952	1,440,431
Gross profit	526,973	506,355	1,087,390	1,029,503
Operating profit	79,027	73,152	171,061	153,571
Depreciation of property assets			36,332	31,831
Amortization and write-down of intangibles	1,481	1,132	2,816	1,990
Capital expenditures	20,892	32,072	48,320	59,216
Rental merchandise on rent, net	731,433		731,433		766,425
Rental merchandise held for rent, net	189,203		189,203		186,768
Assets	2,789,383		2,789,383		2,801,378
Location count	4,102	3,843	4,102	3,843
Core U.S. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	654,356	644,129	1,382,186	1,333,659
Gross profit	474,414	476,649	984,471	973,333
Operating profit	79,463	82,556	174,671	164,616
Depreciation of property assets	15,952	15,137	31,708	30,052
Amortization and write-down of intangibles	585	94	1,023	200
Capital expenditures	16,692	27,758	37,033	48,267
Rental merchandise on rent, net	553,683		553,683		619,189
Rental merchandise held for rent, net	180,351		180,351		177,625
Assets	2,476,417		2,476,417		2,536,115
Location count	2,973	2,989	2,973	2,989
RAC Acceptance [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	77,060	40,892	164,788	79,305
Gross profit	44,617	24,959	87,787	47,044
Operating profit	6,897	(7,540)	9,765	(8,126)
Depreciation of property assets	856	521	1,684	925
Amortization and write-down of intangibles	896	1,038	1,793	1,790
Capital expenditures	1,047	1,794	2,391	2,719
Rental merchandise on rent, net	165,798		165,798		139,340
Rental merchandise held for rent, net	2,130		2,130		1,274
Assets	247,854		247,854		217,157
Location count	811	611	811	611
International [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	8,900	4,462	16,609	8,239
Gross profit	6,242	3,172	11,609	5,847
Operating profit	(7,811)	(2,556)	(14,571)	(4,379)
Depreciation of property assets	1,506	455	2,891	775
Amortization and write-down of intangibles	0	0	0	0
Capital expenditures	3,153	2,520	8,896	8,230
Rental merchandise on rent, net	11,952		11,952		7,896
Rental merchandise held for rent, net	6,722		6,722		7,869
Assets	62,132		62,132		44,535
Location count	99	33	99	33
ColorTyme [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	9,382	8,770	21,369	19,228
Gross profit	1,700	1,575	3,523	3,279
Operating profit	478	692	1,196	1,460
Depreciation of property assets	24	40	49	79
Amortization and write-down of intangibles	0	0	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0	0	0
Rental merchandise on rent, net	0		0		0
Rental merchandise held for rent, net	0		0		0
Assets	$ 2,980		$ 2,980		$ 3,571
Location count	219	210	219	210