Two different orders, not two speeds of the same one
The Express Book and the Memory Book Deposit are both ways to turn physical items into a custom book, but they are built for different kinds of projects. The Express Book is a complete order: you send artwork, photos, sculptures, trophies or other items, Plum Print photographs them and designs a book for you to approve, and the finished keepsake ships to your door. The Memory Book Deposit is a deposit toward preserving mementos such as graduation cards, handwritten letters and newspaper clippings in a designed book.
That difference matters when you are working against a deadline. If your question is simply which order is faster, neither product record supplies a turnaround time or guaranteed delivery date. What the records do show is how much of the work is bundled into each order and what you need to have ready before you start.
What each order actually covers
Use this side-by-side to see where the two products diverge before you commit.
- Express Book: A full service order. You send anything — artwork, photos, sculptures, trophies — and Plum Print professionally photographs your items and designs a book for you to approve. Your materials can be returned upon request, and the record states there are no hidden fees and your digital files are always free.
- Memory Book Deposit: A deposit toward a book that preserves cherished mementos, graduation cards, handwritten letters and newspaper clippings. The record describes the service as doing the hard work for you and points to a process and pricing calculator, but it does not list the same photograph-and-proof workflow as the Express Book.
Which order fits a tight deadline?
If you need a book for a specific date, the Express Book is the more complete starting point in the supplied records because it bundles photography, design and proof approval into one order. You gather your items, mail them, approve the proof, and the finished book is delivered. The Memory Book Deposit, by contrast, is a deposit — it starts a project rather than describing a finished, shipped book in the same detail.
The honest limitation: neither record states a production time, shipping window or rush option. A "rush custom book order" is not confirmed by the supplied information for either product. Before you rely on either for a hard deadline, ask Plum Print directly about current timing rather than assuming the Express name means a guaranteed fast turnaround.
Express Book details that affect a deadline decision
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Express Book: Send anything — artwork, photos, sculptures, trophies and more. A broad intake means you can consolidate mixed keepsakes into one order instead of sorting them into separate projects.
Express Book
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Express Book: Plum Print professionally photographs your items and designs a book for you to approve. Proof approval is a built-in checkpoint, so plan for that step in your timeline rather than expecting the book to ship the moment you mail your items.
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Express Book: Your materials can be returned upon request. If the items you send are irreplaceable, request their return when you order rather than after the book arrives.
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Express Book: No hidden fees; your digital files are always free. The record frames digital files as included, which is worth confirming if you also want a digital copy alongside the physical book.
When the Memory Book Deposit is the better fit
The Memory Book Deposit suits projects built around flat, paper-based mementos: graduation cards, handwritten letters and newspaper clippings. If your box of keepsakes is mostly cards and clippings rather than three-dimensional art or trophies, the deposit route matches the material described in the record.
It is also the lower-commitment starting point at USD 25.00 in the catalog, compared with USD 49.50 for the Express Book. But a deposit is not a final price, and the record points to a separate pricing calculator. Treat the deposit as a first payment and confirm the full project cost before you send anything.
Memory Book Deposit details worth checking first
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Memory Book Deposit: Preserves cherished mementos, graduation cards, handwritten letters and newspaper clippings into designed books. This tells you the intended material type, so you can judge whether your keepsakes fit the deposit route or need the broader Express Book intake.
Memory Book Deposit
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Memory Book Deposit: The record directs you to view the process and calculate your invoice. Because the deposit is not the full price, use the calculator before ordering to understand the total for your project.
Decision rules for choosing between them
Apply these rules in order; the first one that matches your situation usually settles the choice.
- You have a hard deadline: Start with the Express Book because it bundles photography, design and proof approval into one order — but confirm current timing with Plum Print, since no turnaround is stated in the record.
- Your keepsakes are mostly cards, letters and clippings: The Memory Book Deposit matches that material type and lets you start with a smaller payment.
- You are sending sculptures, trophies or mixed three-dimensional items: The Express Book explicitly accepts these; the Memory Book Deposit record does not describe that intake.
- You need your originals back: The Express Book record states materials can be returned upon request; the Memory Book Deposit record does not address return of originals.
What the records do not tell you
Neither product record supplies a production schedule, shipping estimate, rush fee or delivery guarantee. The Express Book record also does not list page counts, book dimensions or material specifications, and the Memory Book Deposit record does not list a final price beyond the deposit. These are gaps in the supplied information, not confirmed absences from Plum Print's full service.
The practical move is to decide based on what you are sending and how much of the process you want handled for you, then ask Plum Print to confirm timing and total cost for your specific project before you mail anything.