Last Updated: January 2026
Cornerstone Services, Inc. ("Cornerstone", "CRST", "we", "us", "our" or "Company") provides clients with services including graphic design, direct mail, website creation, web development, software, SEO/blog support, website hosting, programming, printing, and other related business and communication solutions.
We commit to handling projects with professionalism, efficiency, and clarity. To ensure transparency, we outline our responsibilities, your responsibilities as the client, and the role of third-party vendors. The following Terms and Conditions define our working relationship regarding current and future projects.
Questions? If you have questions about these Terms and Conditions or internal requirements that may conflict with them, notify us in writing before engaging in new or recurring work. Contact us at [email protected].
Unless you provide a written request and receive our written acknowledgment, you unconditionally agree to these Terms and Conditions when you engage Cornerstone for services.
CRST follows a Project Management model where the Project Management desk ([email protected]) oversees all projects. A dedicated Project Manager handles your project and collaborates with other Cornerstone team members, such as the Data Manager, Graphic Designer, and Social Media Manager.
Our Customer Service desk ([email protected]) manages project setup and follow-up tasks, including estimating, billing, gathering contact information, verifying or requesting project assets, quality assurance, and post-production data quality reports.
When you communicate with us, please note that we may take up to one (1) business day to respond. Email remains the preferred communication method, ensuring clarity and documentation. Any final instructions regarding your project must be submitted in writing.
If a delay occurs, our communication will follow CRST's "2-2-2" protocol:
You must send all data files and job-related instructions electronically in a "processable" file format to the CRST Project Management Desk at [email protected].
Acceptable formats include: .dat, .txt, .csv, .tab, .dbf, .xls, and .xlsx
Word processing files, Adobe .pdf documents, and MS Excel or Google Sheets files with multiple tabs are not processable and require additional work before processing.
Sometimes, unexpected data repairs, appending, or enhancements may be necessary. CRST will complete reasonable data repairs within three (3) hours unless you request otherwise in writing. If the required work exceeds this timeframe, we will notify you beforehand.
If you decline further data repairs beyond three (3) hours and cancel your scheduled mailing, a $50.00 cancellation fee applies.
If you lack a USPS® CRID (Customer Registration Identification) number, we will check with USPS® to see if one already exists for you. If not, we will assign one at no additional cost.
Since CRST submits all mailings at automation service standards, we verify every submitted file through NCOA/Move Update address quality requirements set by USPS®.
Important: As a USPS® Full Service professional mailer, your automation presorted addressed mail data must enter the domestic postal mail stream within 30 calendar days. If you ask us to hold, pause, or delay your mailing past this window, you must pay a re-processing charge.
For ongoing and scheduled projects, you must designate a single, qualified point-person as the primary contact between Cornerstone and your organization.
The individual who initially authorizes the scheduled work automatically becomes Cornerstone's sole point of contact. This designated person must hold full decision-making authority. All instructions must be submitted in writing via email to [email protected].
If you provide verbal direction due to urgency, CRST will try to confirm these instructions via return email. However, verbal instructions cannot replace written project instructions.
Your electronic mailing data is safe with us and we will not use it for any purpose other than that for which you have requested. If you supply a mailing list to Cornerstone, we will uphold absolute privacy and industry-standard care regarding its use and archival.
For submitted customer files with no third-party restrictions, Cornerstone provides a Data Quality Report that includes:
Cornerstone does not provide Data Quality Reports for list rentals or Board of Election data files. You can expect reports within 30 days of payment and project completion.
If your organization previously mailed at USPS® Non-Profit mailing rates, you likely qualify for not-for-profit mailing privileges. CRST regularly verifies an organization's non-profit status with the Postal Service.
Please note that IRS 501(c)(3) recognition does not automatically qualify an organization for USPS® non-profit mailing rates. Before granting permission for discounted non-profit mailings, CRST requires 1–3 business days to verify your NPA status.
Before printing, the CRST Project Management team reviews your proposed design(s) to ensure compliance with USPS® physical mailing standards and Cornerstone's internal mailpiece setup requirements.
If Cornerstone designs your mailpiece, we handle all compliance requirements automatically and take full responsibility for ensuring the design meets USPS® mailing standards.
We exclusively use Adobe InDesign. We do not accept MS Publisher, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, CorelDraw, Quark, or Canva files.
CRST no longer presents mail under permits other than its own permit. Additionally, mailings are not presented anywhere other than a standard BMEU entry point in Newburgh, NY.
Using our postal permits does not incur additional charges. However, if your mailpiece design lacks the required permit, CRST will modify it accordingly and graphic design charges may apply.
We engage third-party service and fulfillment vendors including the United States Postal Service (USPS®), United Parcel Service (UPS), and Federal Express (FedEx®). The success of our work depends on reliable service from these providers.
While the Postal Service has internal delivery standards, it does not guarantee delivery timelines for any mail class we offer. USPS® and other providers sometimes face delays due to weather, seasonal volume spikes, internal re-routing, workforce shortages, or logistical disruptions.
The formal mailing turnaround timeframe begins once we receive your full advance payment for all services and postage. This timeframe ends when we enter your mail at the USPS® Mid-Hudson facility in Newburgh, NY.
If you have not pre-paid for services, we cannot guarantee any fulfillment turnaround timeframes.
Properly designed USPS® political mail may receive expedited handling compared to standard Marketing services. To qualify, submitted designs for public office positions must include:
Please note that USPS® regulations frequently change and a Postal Service clerk may interpret rules differently than expected.
Cornerstone operates under the "On Receipt" payment arrangement. Payment for all services—including data rental, postage, web services, print materials, and other deliverables—must be completed before final delivery.
For projects exceeding $2,500, we may require a 50% deposit before starting work. All funds must clear Cornerstone's account before we proceed with design, data processing, or mailing presentments.
We do not accept credit card payments over the phone.
If non-payment extends beyond 30 days, you agree to cover any reasonable legal or collection costs.
Cornerstone does not warehouse residual materials unless prior written arrangements exist. If we complete a mailing project and lack advance instructions on handling residual materials, we will attempt to contact you via email (2 attempts) and phone (2 attempts).
If we do not receive clear instructions within two (2) weeks, CRST will add your post-mailing materials to our commercial recycling program.
Your request for design, printing, and mail fulfillment services from Cornerstone acknowledges that we make our best efforts in all aspects, including design, data handling, printing, and general mailing fulfillment.
You agree to indemnify and hold Cornerstone harmless against any claims, costs, or expenses, including attorney's fees, that may arise from the mailing(s), work, or projects you request from us.
You unconditionally understand and agree that Cornerstone bears no responsibility for any damages or perceived damages, including pain and suffering, resulting from the execution of any work you have requested from us.
(a) Additional charges and expenses may arise as a natural consequence of the services we render. While we strive to provide accurate cost estimates, final invoice charges may differ from the original estimate if more than thirty (30) days have passed since the estimate was provided.
(b) If a dispute arises from your request for services, binding arbitration through the American Arbitration Association will be your sole recourse beyond direct negotiation with us. You must submit any dispute in writing to Cornerstone within twenty (20) days of receiving our invoice.
(c) These Terms and Conditions confirm your obligation to pay for all services, materials, data, postage, artwork, and graphic design provided by Cornerstone. Your request for services—whether in writing or verbally—signifies your full consent to these Terms and Conditions.
Contact CRST Customer Service at [email protected] or call (845) 255-5722
Thank you for your business! We look forward to providing the highest level of professional service and expert guidance.