Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	$ 839,031	$ 869,541	$ 2,519,506	$ 2,641,113
EBIT	197,916	221,740	602,577	682,803
Reconciling items:
Interest, net	(35,259)	(37,698)	(103,769)	(119,371)
Unallocated corporate expenses	(51,992)	(49,235)	(158,536)	(151,959)
Restructuring charges and asset impairments, net	(16,494)	(36)	(49,503)	(14,305)
Acquisition and disposition-related expenses	(578)	0	(3,738)	(10,483)
Other income (expense), net	0	1,781	(536)	94,916
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	93,593	136,552	286,495	481,601
Provision for income taxes	23,197	42,676	93,615	145,574
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(291)	0	(1,951)	(582)
Net income	70,105	93,876	190,929	335,445
North America Mailing
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	329,995	353,159	1,001,789	1,071,824
EBIT	138,588	159,319	436,730	482,376
International Mailing
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	95,628	104,615	305,725	331,398
EBIT	9,733	10,739	34,365	36,585
Small & Medium Business Solutions
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	425,623	457,774	1,307,514	1,403,222
EBIT	148,321	170,058	471,095	518,961
Production Mail
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	106,350	101,646	289,649	298,880
EBIT	15,696	12,401	35,434	31,461
Presort Services
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	114,053	115,912	357,214	351,365
EBIT	19,181	25,908	69,305	76,946
Enterprise Business Solutions
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	220,403	217,558	646,863	650,245
EBIT	34,877	38,309	104,739	108,407
Software Solutions
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	89,031	97,638	257,417	282,916
EBIT	10,329	14,613	17,908	34,904
Global Ecommerce
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	103,974	96,571	307,712	249,923
EBIT	4,389	(1,240)	8,835	9,962
Digital Commerce Solutions
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	193,005	194,209	565,129	532,839
EBIT	14,718	13,373	26,743	44,866
Other
Segment reporting information profit (loss)
Revenues	0	0	0	54,807
EBIT	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 10,569

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