Quarterly Financial Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 523,489		$ 485,195		$ 482,700		$ 532,665		$ 484,429		$ 452,150		$ 444,999		$ 495,269		$ 2,024,049	$ 1,876,847	$ 1,752,787
Gross Profit	242,163	[1]	231,942	[1]	236,958	[1]	259,542	[1]	226,822	[1]	217,994	[1]	215,725	[1]	239,827	[1]
Earnings Before Taxes From Continuing Operations	48,739		45,092		17,627		71,919		49,810		42,085		39,329		59,562		183,377	190,786	176,439
Net Earnings	$ 30,534		$ 28,045		$ 10,799		$ 44,389		$ 30,787		$ 26,179		$ 24,435		$ 36,975		$ 113,767	$ 118,376	$ 112,601
Earnings Per Share	$ 0.40		$ 0.36		$ 0.14		$ 0.55		$ 0.38		$ 0.32		$ 0.30		$ 0.45
Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution	$ 0.40		$ 0.36		$ 0.13		$ 0.55		$ 0.38		$ 0.32		$ 0.30		$ 0.45

[1] Gross profit is the sum of lease revenues and fees, retail sales, and non-retail sales less retail cost of sales, non-retail cost of sales, depreciation of lease merchandise and write-offs of lease merchandise.