I walked into a flea market booth today and saw a NOS soda thermometer that I was interested in to hang in the kitchen. It was in perfect condition except for the price sticker stuck to the front. The owner of the booth was in the mall and we struck a deal under one condition. He had to pull the sticker off. Now I warned him to take it to the other side of the store where there was a hair dryer and heat the sticker so as to loosen the stickum. "Ive done this a thousand times"was his answer. I reminded him that the reason for this caution was I had seen this happen before and that the paint could possibly come off with the sticker. Well I wont keep you in suspense any longer. The paint stayed.... right on the back of the sticker. I just smiled when he looked up and told him thats why I wanted to heat it up and that you should never stick anything, under any circumstance, to the front of a painted surface advertisement. "Well youre gonna pay me for it anyway" he said. Once again I smiled and reminded him of the deal. Mad at me he stormed off. What a jerk! So please dont be stupid and put anything on the front of a painted sign. Yes, I said stupid. There is no count how many times I have walked away from a sign I would have bought but there was a price tag or tape or sticker stuck to the front of it and I will not chance it. Please tell anyone you can this good advice especially the new guys to the hobby, and some of the old ones as well. Whats that saying about old dogs..........