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Note 3 - Accounts Receivable: | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2012
Accounts Receivable [Text Block] | (3) Accounts Receivable: The Company maintained allowances for doubtful accounts and unissued credits of $3.5 million and $2.9 million at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained at a level considered appropriate based on historical experience and specific customer collection issues that have been identified. Estimations are based upon a calculated percentage of accounts receivable, which remains fairly level from year to year, and judgments about the probable effects of economic conditions on certain customers, which can fluctuate significantly from year to year. The Company cannot guarantee that the rate of future credit losses will be similar to past experience. The Company considers all available information when assessing the adequacy of its allowance for doubtful accounts and unissued credits each quarter.

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- Definition Accounts Receivable + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | zeus_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration