Intangible Assets and Goodwill 3 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)					$ 26,000,000
Goodwill, Gross			2,284,603,000				2,284,603,000		2,277,238,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	101,415,000		18,315,000
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning period					2,136,138,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			(148,465,000)				(148,465,000)		(130,150,000)
Other	(299,852,000)	[1]	7,365,000	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	1,734,871,000		2,136,138,000		1,734,871,000		2,136,138,000		2,147,088,000
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)					15,000,000		17,000,000		17,000,000
Goodwill, Gross			553,526,000				553,526,000		552,350,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	101,415,000		18,315,000		(101,000,000)		(18,000,000)		(130,150,000)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning period					405,061,000		422,200,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			(148,465,000)				(148,465,000)		(130,150,000)
Other	(303,646,000)	[1]	1,176,000	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	0		405,061,000		0		405,061,000		422,200,000
Continuing Operations [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			1,731,077,000				1,731,077,000		1,724,888,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0						0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0				0
Other	3,794,000	[1]	6,189,000	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	1,734,871,000		1,731,077,000		1,734,871,000		1,731,077,000		1,724,888,000
North America Mailing
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			355,874,000				355,874,000		352,897,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0						0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0				0
Other	4,054,000	[1]	2,977,000	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	359,928,000		355,874,000		359,928,000		355,874,000		352,897,000
International Mailing
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			182,746,000				182,746,000		187,904,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0						0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0				0
Other	(485,000)	[1]	(5,158,000)	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	182,261,000		182,746,000		182,261,000		182,746,000		187,904,000
Small & Medium Business Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			538,620,000				538,620,000		540,801,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0						0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0				0
Other	3,569,000	[1]	(2,181,000)	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	542,189,000		538,620,000		542,189,000		538,620,000		540,801,000
Production Mail
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			120,881,000				120,881,000		117,351,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0						0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0				0
Other	(2,821,000)	[1]	3,530,000	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	118,060,000		120,881,000		118,060,000		120,881,000		117,351,000
Presort Services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			195,140,000	[2]			195,140,000	[2]	195,140,000	[2]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0	[2]	0	[2]					0	[2]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0	[2]			0	[2]
Other	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]
Goodwill, ending period	195,140,000	[2]	195,140,000	[2]	195,140,000	[2]	195,140,000	[2]	195,140,000	[2]
Enterprise Business Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			316,021,000				316,021,000		312,491,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0						0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0				0
Other	(2,821,000)	[1]	3,530,000
Goodwill, ending period	313,200,000		316,021,000		313,200,000		316,021,000		312,491,000
Digital Commerce Solutions [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			876,436,000				876,436,000		871,596,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0						0	[2]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0				0
Other	3,046,000	[1]	4,840,000	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	$ 879,482,000		$ 876,436,000		$ 879,482,000		$ 876,436,000		$ 871,596,000

[1] Primarily represents foreign currency translation adjustments for the period.

[2] (1)Primarily represents foreign currency translation adjustments for the period. For discontinued operations in 2013, the adjustment primarily represents the write-off of remaining goodwill upon the sale of the Management Services business.