On rent Bad debt expense Provision for Doubtful Accounts Rental Merchandise on Rent, Net Rental merchandise on rent, net. Held for rent Rental Merchandise Held for Rent, Net Rental merchandise held for rent, net. Subsequent Events Subsequent Events [Abstract] Subsequent Events. Fair Value Fair Value [Abstract] Fair Value. Store Store [Abstract] Store. Rentals and fees Rentals and Fees Rentals and fees. Installment sales Installment Sales Installment sales. Franchise Franchise [Abstract] Franchise. Merchandise sales Franchise Merchandise Sales Franchise merchandise sales. Merchandise sales Merchandise Sales Merchandise sales. Royalty income and fees Franchise Royalty Income and Fees Franchise royalty income and fees. Royalty income and fees Store expenses Direct Store Expenses [Abstract] Direct store expenses. Franchise expenses Direct Franchise Expenses [Abstract] Direct franchise expenses. Cost of rentals and fees Cost of Rentals and Fees Cost of rentals and fees. Cost of merchandise sold Cost of Merchandise Sold Cost of merchandise sold. Cost of installment sales Cost of Installment Sales Cost of installment sales. Salaries and other expenses Salaries and Other Expenses Salaries and other expenses. Salaries and other expenses Franchise cost of merchandise sold Franchise Cost of Merchandise Sold Franchise cost of merchandise sold. Franchise cost of merchandise sold Rental merchandise Increase (Decrease) in Rental Merchandise Increase (decrease) in rental merchandise. Bad debt expense Bad Debt Expense Bad debt expense. Document And Company Information [Abstract] Document and Company Information [Abstract] Document And Company Information. Significant Accounting Policies and Nature of Operations Significant Accounting Policies and Nature of Operations [Text Block] Significant accounting policies and nature of operations. Amortization and write-down of intangibles Amortization and Write Down of Intangibles Amortization and write down of intangibles. Significant Accounting Policies And Nature Of Operations [Abstract] Significant Accounting Policies And Nature Of Operations [Abstract] Significant Accounting Policies And Nature Of Operations. Intangible Assets And Acquisitions [Abstract] Intangible Assets And Acquisitions [Abstract] Intangible Assets And Acquisitions. Repurchases Of Outstanding Securities [Abstract] Repurchases Of Outstanding Securities [Abstract] Repurchases Of Outstanding Securities. Rental merchandise, net Rental Merchandise [Abstract] Depreciation of rental merchandise Depreciation of Rental Merchandise Depreciation of rental merchandise. Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $9,588 in 2010 and $9,753 in 2009 Accounts Receivable, Net, Total Accounts Receivable, Net Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Beginning Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Depreciation of property assets Depreciation, Total Depreciation Amortization of financing fees Amortization of Financing Costs Amortization of intangibles Amortization of Intangible Assets, Total Amortization of Intangible Assets Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Basic earnings per common share Basic earnings per common share Earnings Per Share, Basic Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Receivables Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Prepaid expenses and other assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid, Deferred Expense and Other Assets, Total Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid, Deferred Expense and Other Assets Accounts payable - trade Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, Trade Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Accrued liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Common stock - shares authorized Common stock - shares authorized Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock - shares issued Beginning balance, shares Ending balance, shares Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, $.01 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized; 105,586,261 and 104,910,759 shares issued in 2010 and 2009, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued Cumulative translation adjustment Deferred income taxes Restructuring charge Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Diluted earnings per common share Diluted earnings per common share Earnings Per Share, Diluted Stock-based compensation expense Share-based Compensation, Total Share-based Compensation Loss on sale or disposal of property assets Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment, Total Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment General and administrative expenses General and Administrative Expense, Total General and Administrative Expense Statements of Earnings [Abstract] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Other intangible assets, net Finite Lived Intangible Assets, Net Other intangible assets, net Goodwill, net Goodwill, Beginning Balance Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill Interest expense Interest Expense, Total Interest Expense Subordinated notes payable Subordinated notes payable Junior Subordinated Notes, Current Total Liabilities Total Liabilities Liabilities LIABILITIES Liabilities [Abstract] Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Merchandise held for installment sale Retail Related Inventory, Merchandise Net cash used in financing activities Net cash used in financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash flows from financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Total Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Cash flows from investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Total Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Cash flows from operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] NET EARNINGS NET EARNINGS Net earnings Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Total Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Operating profit Operating Income (Loss), Total Operating Income (Loss) Revenues Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract] Revenues Revenues Foreign currency translation adjustment Effect of exchange rate changes on cash Payments Of Dividends Dividends paid Proceeds from debt Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt, Total Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt Proceeds from sale of property assets Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment Exercise of stock options Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Property assets, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Purchase of property assets Purchase of property assets Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Payments on capital leases Payments on capital leases Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations Repayments of debt Repayments of debt Repayments of Long-term Debt, Total Repayments of Long-term Debt Repurchase of subordinated notes Repurchase of subordinated notes Repurchase of subordinated notes Repayments of Subordinated Debt Purchase of treasury stock Purchase of treasury stock Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Restructuring charge Restructuring charge Restructuring charge Restructuring Charges Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Other Other Sales Revenue, Net Subsequent Events Schedule of Subsequent Events [Text Block] Senior debt Secured Debt Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Intangible Assets and Acquisitions Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Tax benefit related to stock option exercises Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Total Assets Total Assets Assets Allowance for doubtful accounts Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Beginning Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Ending Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable Interest income Investment Income, Interest ASSETS Assets [Abstract] Fair Value Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Treasury stock, 41,441,451 and 39,259,949 shares at cost in 2010 and 2009, respectively Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value Tax Benefit from Stock Options Exercised Tax benefit related to stock option exercises Repurchases of Outstanding Securities Schedule of Treasury Stock by Class [Text Block] Operating expenses Operating Expenses [Abstract] Total operating expenses Operating Expenses, Total Operating Expenses Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest, Total Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Common stock - par value Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Treasury stock, 38,787,849 shares at cost in 2009 and 2008 Treasury stock - shares at cost Treasury Stock, Shares, Beginning Balance Treasury Stock, Shares, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Shares Direct operating expenses Operating Costs and Expenses, Total Operating Costs and Expenses Total Stockholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Income Taxes [Abstract] Earnings before income taxes Income tax expense Income tax expense Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid Cash dividends per common share Litigation expense (credit) Litigation expense (credit) Litigation Settlement, Gross Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Commitments and Contingencies Prepaid expenses and other assets Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Total Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Accounts payable - trade Accounts Payable, Current and Noncurrent, Total Accounts Payable, Current and Noncurrent Accrued liabilities Accrued Liabilities, Current and Noncurrent, Total Accrued Liabilities, Current and Noncurrent