Intangible Assets and Goodwill 3 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			$ 2,284,603
Accumulated impairment			(148,465)
Impairment	(101,415)	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning period			2,136,138
Other	(3,058)	[2]
Goodwill, ending period	1,729,178		2,136,138
Goodwill including Discontinued Operations	2,031,665
North America Mailing
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			355,874
Accumulated impairment			0
Impairment	0	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning period			355,874
Other	2,439	[2]
Goodwill, ending period	358,313		355,874
International Mailing
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			183,908
Accumulated impairment			0
Impairment	(1,162)	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning period			183,908
Other	(1,633)	[2]
Goodwill, ending period	181,113		183,908
Small & Medium Business Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			539,782
Accumulated impairment			0
Impairment	(1,162)	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning period			539,782
Other	806	[2]
Goodwill, ending period	539,426		539,782
Production Mail
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			131,865
Accumulated impairment			0
Impairment	0	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning period			131,865
Other	(15,050)	[2]
Goodwill, ending period	116,815		131,865
Management Services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			488,399
Accumulated impairment			(84,500)
Impairment	(100,253)	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning period			403,899
Other	(1,159)	[2]
Goodwill, ending period	302,487		403,899
Management Services | Assets Held-for-sale [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, ending period	(302,487)
Mail Services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			259,106
Accumulated impairment			(63,965)
Impairment	0	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning period			195,141
Other	0	[2]
Goodwill, ending period	195,141		195,141
Enterprise Business Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			879,370
Accumulated impairment			(148,465)
Impairment	(100,253)	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning period			730,905
Other	(16,209)	[2]
Goodwill, ending period	614,443		730,905
Digital Commerce Solutions [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			865,451
Accumulated impairment			0
Impairment	0	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning period			865,451
Other	12,345	[2]
Goodwill, ending period	$ 877,796		$ 865,451

[1]

[2] foreign currency translation adjustments