Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Information (Details) [Abstract]
Number of retail installment sales stores	41				41
Number of rent-to-own stores in Canada	33				33
Number of rent-to-own stores in Mexico	81				81
ColorTyme's royalty fee percentage, minimum					2.00%
ColoTyme's royalty fee percentage, maximum					4.00%
Litigation expense	$ 0	$ 0		$ 2,800		$ 2,800
Restructuring charge	0	7,586	4,900			12,519
Impairment charge	0	0		7,300		7,320
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	739,314	704,271			2,324,266	2,144,702
Gross profit	519,341	505,724			1,606,731	1,535,227
Operating profit	68,113	57,796			239,174	211,367
Depreciation of property assets	18,412	16,107			54,744	47,938
Amortization and write-down of intangibles	2,447	1,261			5,263	3,251
Capital expenditures	24,783	32,763			73,103	91,979
Rental merchandise on rent, net	733,724				733,724		766,425
Rental merchandise held for rent, net	214,158				214,158		186,768
Assets	2,799,915				2,799,915		2,801,378
Location count	4,199	3,936			4,199	3,936
Core U.S. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	634,575	639,806			2,016,761	1,973,465
Gross profit	460,353	470,185			1,444,824	1,443,518
Operating profit	69,544	63,590			244,215	228,206
Depreciation of property assets	15,981	14,890			47,689	44,942
Amortization and write-down of intangibles	583	365			1,606	565
Capital expenditures	22,056	28,901			59,089	77,168
Rental merchandise on rent, net	534,812				534,812		619,189
Rental merchandise held for rent, net	204,235				204,235		177,625
Assets	2,464,875				2,464,875		2,536,115
Location count	2,983	2,958			2,983	2,958
RAC Acceptance [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	83,838	51,310			248,626	130,615
Gross profit	49,737	30,717			137,524	77,761
Operating profit	7,259	(3,356)			17,024	(11,482)
Depreciation of property assets	936	595			2,620	1,520
Amortization and write-down of intangibles	897	896			2,690	2,686
Capital expenditures	1,191	1,643			3,582	4,362
Rental merchandise on rent, net	184,372				184,372		139,340
Rental merchandise held for rent, net	3,099				3,099		1,274
Assets	265,496				265,496		217,157
Location count	882	721			882	721
International [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	10,871	4,655			27,480	12,894
Gross profit	7,516	3,248			19,125	9,095
Operating profit	(9,046)	(3,342)			(23,617)	(7,721)
Depreciation of property assets	1,475	595			4,366	1,370
Amortization and write-down of intangibles	967	0			967	0
Capital expenditures	1,536	2,219			10,432	10,449
Rental merchandise on rent, net	14,540				14,540		7,896
Rental merchandise held for rent, net	6,824				6,824		7,869
Assets	67,907				67,907		44,535
Location count	114	44			114	44
ColorTyme [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	10,030	8,500			31,399	27,728
Gross profit	1,735	1,574			5,258	4,853
Operating profit	356	904			1,552	2,364
Depreciation of property assets	20	27			69	106
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	$ 1,637				$ 1,637		$ 3,571
Location count	220	213			220	213