Greetings,

I wanted to share with you on the topic of plans a recent disappointment that I experienced. Like many woodworkers I am always on the lookout for a new plan or idea to implement in my own designs. While the internet seems like a great way to find new plans and ideas one should be wary, particularly with sites that offer “Free” woodworking plans….

Buyer, or in this case beggar, beware! Though I have had good luck with many sites there is one particular “Library” site that I see advertised at nearly every woodworking site I visit that has proven to be quite a nuisance. I have my personal “method” of keeping track of who’s doing what with my email address by being able to use a different customized address for everyone I give my email address to. This means that when I receive an email I know the original place that I gave the email to. When I visited this “Library” site I was asked to complete a survey in order to get to the free plans. I never even finished the survey, nor did I ever actually get to a woodworking plan however within 24 hours I started receiving random spam emails at the custom “Library” address I had given them. I now receive upwards of 100 spam emails a day at this particular address and they’re rarely, if ever, even about “wood” related products, but rather things like Viagra… which are not the same thing.

Most people would not be able to identify that all of this spam was coming from their specific contact with this website as most people give the same email address to everyone. I don’t think I should be lured in with the promise of a free woodworking plan and then buried under 100’s of annoying, if not offensive, emails, particularly when I never even finished their survey or viewed any of their plans….. This site is advertised heavily and it gives me a dirty feeling about the places that advertise it too. Beggar Beware.