Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			$ 1,734,871		$ 2,284,603
Accumulated impairment			0		(148,465)
Balance at	1,672,721		1,734,871		2,136,138
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at	1,734,871		2,136,138
Impairment	0		(101,415)		(18,315)
Other	(62,150)	[1]	(299,852)	[1]
Balance at	1,672,721		1,734,871		2,136,138
Total reportable segments
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			1,725,518		1,721,724
Accumulated impairment			0		0
Balance at	1,672,721		1,725,518
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at	1,725,518		1,721,724
Impairment	0		0
Other	(52,797)	[1]	3,794	[1]
Balance at	1,672,721		1,725,518
Discontinued operations
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			9,353		562,879
Accumulated impairment			0		(148,465)
Balance at	0		9,353		414,414
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at	9,353		414,414
Impairment	0		(101,415)		(18,000)
Other	(9,353)		(303,646)	[1]
Balance at	0		9,353		414,414
North America Mailing
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			326,664		322,610
Accumulated impairment			0		0
Balance at	309,448		326,664
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at	326,664		322,610
Impairment	0		0
Other	(17,216)	[1]	4,054	[1]
Balance at	309,448		326,664
International Mailing
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			182,261		182,746
Accumulated impairment			0		0
Balance at	162,146		182,261
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at	182,261		182,746
Impairment	0		0
Other	(20,115)	[1]	(485)	[1]
Balance at	162,146		182,261
Small & Medium Business Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			508,925		505,356
Accumulated impairment			0		0
Balance at	471,594		508,925
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at	508,925		505,356
Impairment	0		0
Other	(37,331)	[1]	3,569	[1]
Balance at	471,594		508,925
Production Mail
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			118,060		120,881
Accumulated impairment			0		0
Balance at	110,837		118,060
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at	118,060		120,881
Impairment	0		0
Other	(7,223)	[1]	(2,821)	[1]
Balance at	110,837		118,060
Presort Services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			195,140		195,140
Accumulated impairment			0		0
Balance at	195,140		195,140
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at	195,140		195,140
Impairment	0		0
Other	0	[1]	0	[1]
Balance at	195,140		195,140
Enterprise Business Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			313,200		316,021
Accumulated impairment			0		0
Balance at	305,977		313,200
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at	313,200		316,021
Impairment	0		0
Other	(7,223)	[1]	(2,821)
Balance at	305,977		313,200
Digital Commerce Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross value before accumulated impairment			903,393		900,347
Accumulated impairment			0		0
Balance at	895,150		903,393
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at	903,393		900,347
Impairment	0		0
Other	(8,243)	[1]	3,046	[1]
Balance at	$ 895,150		$ 903,393

[1] Primarily represents foreign currency translation adjustments. For discontinued operations, the adjustment primarily represents the write-off of remaining goodwill upon sale.