STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2014		Feb. 28, 2013		Feb. 28, 2014		Feb. 28, 2013		Aug. 31, 2013		Aug. 31, 2012
Document Period End Date					Feb. 28, 2014
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Amortization, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net Prior Service Cost Recognized in Net Periodic Benefit Cost, before Tax					$ 0	[1]	$ 0	[1]	$ 260	[1]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net Gain (Loss) Recognized in Net Periodic Benefit Cost, before Tax					12	[1]	1	[1]	(365)	[1]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	(54,693)		(34,972)		(54,693)		(34,972)		(42,321)		(31,962)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax	(141)		(71)		(141)		(71)		(152)		(74)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax	1,920	[2]	(1,761)	[2]	1,920	[2]	(1,761)	[2]	998	[2]	(1,146)	[2]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(52,914)		(36,804)		(52,914)		(36,804)		(41,475)		(33,182)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	(13,661)	[3]	(1,614)	[3]	(12,372)	[3]	(3,010)	[3]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, before Tax	7		2		12		1		(105)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Tax	1		0		(1)		2		27
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	8		2		11		3		(78)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, before Tax	1,545	[4]	(400)	[4]	1,369	[4]	(584)	[4]	2,691
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax	(480)	[4]	(10)	[4]	(447)	[4]	(31)	[4]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	1,065	[4]	(410)	[4]	922	[4]	(615)	[4]	2,144
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), adjustments, net of tax					933		(612)		2,066
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax	(12,109)		(2,012)		(10,991)		(3,593)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	(479)		(10)		(448)		(29)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(12,588)		(2,022)		(11,439)		(3,622)
Foreign currency translation adjustments [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax					(12,372)		(3,010)		(10,359)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax					(12,372)		(3,010)		(10,359)
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax					11				(78)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax					11				(78)
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Domain]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax							3
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax							3
Deferred Derivative Gain (Loss) [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax					922	[2]	(615)	[2]	2,144	[2]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax					922	[2]	(615)	[2]	2,144	[2]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax					(11,439)		(3,622)		(8,293)
Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, before Tax					464		0		1,505
Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, before Tax					891		0		0
Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Other Liabilities [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, before Tax					0		(708)		983
Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Liability [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax					(443)		0		(497)
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Other Liabilities [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, before Tax					14		124		203
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Deferred Tax Asset [Domain]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax					$ (4)		$ (31)		$ (50)

[1] (1) These amounts are included as part of salaries reported within the statement of income; warehouse club operations.

[2] (1) See Note 9 - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

[3] (1) Translation adjustments arising in translating the financial statements of a foreign entity have no effect on the income taxes of that foreign entity. They may, however, affect: (a) the amount, measured in the parent entity's reporting currency, of withholding taxes assessed on dividends paid to the parent entity and (b) the amount of taxes assessed on the parent entity by the government of its country. The Company has determined that the reinvestment of earnings of its foreign subsidiaries are indefinite because of the long-term nature of the Company's foreign investment plans. Therefore, deferred taxes are not provided for on translation adjustments related to unremitted earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries.

[4] (2) See Note 9 - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.