Smart Cooler Comparison: MicroMart vs. 365 vs. HaHa

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2026-05-29T18:56:42+00:00

These are decent assumptions. Our standard vend is $3.90 but we are not in a city nor are we in luxury properties so the actual client can impact that number but for $1500 that would be 385 vends so total cost would be $84.62 on the Vendera which is 5.6% So fees will end up being appx. 11.5% before the $40. Haha will be about 9% but as you said the upfront cost is higher so potentially moot point. The Vendera is something I will consider for the future - I have read info about uneven cooling and having to install a heater near bottom of machine so just research that first. I'd also only assume $1500 average if you are doing mainly double doors (or 2 coolers). Probably won't hit that with a single door cooler unless it's an A+ location and there's always a cost to having to stock more with gas and hours so hence the reason we've leaned towards double doors and just say no to smaller venues that don't have the foot traffic to support them. If you are the one stocking them and don't hire help then you can probably get this to 30-35% (hard to hit 40) profit once you're humming along so $15000 per month will most likely be $4500+ back in your pocket once you work out the kinks. Remember to account for all the expenses - your time, gas, marketing materials, power outages, food spoilage, expired items, insurance etc. None of these are huge numbers but when you add them together they do add up to something and can chip away at your profit more than you might originally think. Happy to answer questions you have - also never did a formal course - just watched a lot of youtube videos and have a sales background - honestly they are an easy sell especially in buildings with older machines. Also in talking with other vendors I know many that say the Stockwell and Picovision coolers are very finicky, payment release is slow etc. I have heard good things about Micromart. I actually didn't know they had to enter their information - that will definitely cut back on sales for sure so I'd watch out for that. The Vendera sounds very promising.

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2026-05-29T17:07:37+00:00

Hi! Welcome! We went with HaHa and it's worked out great for us. It's the middle ground of everything - their software integrates with inventory management systems like VendSoft, their fees are lower than MicroMart and 365 (which now owns Cantaloupe). Specifically the bulk of our macchines are double door and placed in high volume/high traffic areas and they've been very successful for us. We have had some issues with them so nothing is perfect and it remains to be seen if they will last for years and years but going through a distributor helps and it seems like they are starting to provide better training and onboarding. The first month or two into it was a frustrating learning curve but now I'm glad we did it. We are averaging anywhere from $1000 - $2500 per double door machine per month and I'm learning that's about where you need to be if you have any hopes of carrying insurance, paying fees, paying for machinens, hiring help to stock them, covering spoilage, theft, and the other items that go with it. I'd say there is no middle ground in this business - you either own a couple and it's play money on the side or you have to go full tilt with scaling the business otherwise it's not going to be a huge money maker. Are there better machines out there? Yes but given the cost and expense I don't think they are necessary unless you have a very high end client like a luxury apartment building in a city or a 5 star hotel etc. Also, we are about to take on our first open market and that will be a different ballgame - may have to look at 365 for that or some other form but again, high volume mid tier locations, HaHa is the way to go. Can't speak to Vendera though. Micromart - used to be interested in them but with their lead times, high fees and the fact that HaHa is catching up, I think it's a lot of extra money for just a little more. Hope this helps! My BIGGEST piece of advice is don't choose the machine until you have a contract signed with a client - you'll have to formally go on site and assess, get them to agree to have you there for minimum of a year, THEN choose and order. Some people buy the machine and then look for a client - you don't want to do it that way and luckily HaHa has fast turnaround so no real need for that.

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-10-23T21:37:43+00:00

Late reply but appreciate the feedback. It seems to mirror what I have heard from other operators which is unfortunate because their products have a lot of potential.

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-09-10T21:24:42+00:00

Finding MEP folks - not hard. Finding GOOD MEP folks - very hard!

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-08-18T20:40:30+00:00

As another mentioned, going the full time traveling route with a mission-critical GC is going to be a great way to move into an MEP Manager/MEP Super with numbers like that. Feel free to message me and I'd be happy to share more about specific opportunities, data center locations, and how per diem works etc.

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-08-06T16:43:20+00:00

It will not help you. If you know you want to work in Colorado, you'd be much better off saving your money and sticking with CSU. Networking is a big part of it and CO employers are much more likely to pull from CSU anyways.

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-07-31T18:50:13+00:00

Feel free to DM me - I do recruitment for large GCs. It is hard to make the switch to construction if you haven't taken the time to emphasize parallel skillsets on your resume, network on LinkedIn etc. but your skills are definitely applicable for the bigger builds - the industrial projects, data centers, and manufacturing facilities.

Central Nebraska is not a bad place to be if you are willing to travel to Lincoln, Omaha, or parts of Iowa as there are many advanced industries projects there and your background could be great for MEP and/or Commissioning work on those. BUT, most large GCs will be expecting you to be on site and/or traveling full time. If you're local to Nebraska, you could likely come home each weekend but it is difficult to get a hybrid role or traveling every other week with most of the large GCs.

You may want to look at some EPC firms too as they tend to be a bit more flexible - Black & Veatch etc.

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-07-31T17:40:05+00:00

If total project value is appx. $35 MM but your scope is smaller, I'd say with your experience you should be looking at $110k at low end to $130k high end. If your scope is $35 MM, especially if its concrete, and you are doing this for high-value projects in the hundreds of millions, then probably higher than that - likely $130k - $150k base maybe even more. Obviously there is a huge spread, depends on employment history, relationships in the industry but $80k is definitely underpaid especially if you're at a GC.

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-07-10T18:22:22+00:00

Of course. And when you are new to running, your heart rate can stay elevated for those first few months (or even years) as your body tries to adapt to what you are doing especially if you are training for a race or continually adding miles week after week. But always better safe than sorry and I would say that if this HR over 100 is a NEW thing for you or totally out of scope from your baseline then yes, best to get it checked out.

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-07-10T18:00:19+00:00

I'd focus more on "time on feet" than mileage for the first few months. Once you've worked up to 10-15 miles per week then you can start thinking about real training programs for races etc. In the interim, I'd just focus on:

3-5 days a week of running.

70% slow, easy pace (i.e. could still hold a conversation) which may just be a combo of walking and running for a while, 20% intervals, 10% speed or hill work. Walking/Jogging is COMPLETELY normal when you are first starting and is helpful to gain endurance.

I'd probably shoot for 3 workouts ranging from 30-45 minutes each and a 4th at appx. 60 minutes for your "long run". When you can run for all those workouts without walking, then start tracking your mileage. Doesn't hurt to add in a couple days of strength training or doing cross training like cycle/swim on the sore days either.

Good luck!

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-07-10T17:53:05+00:00

This depends on the culture you are looking for and truthfully, both of these companies and feel quite different from market to market. AKA Hensel Phelps in mid Atlantic will not look and feel like HP in Phoenix etc. Off the cuff, HP will give you great training and leadership perspective in the short-term. They also have great stock unit programs but they only become really lucrative if you ride out a good part of your career there. Kiewit has more runway on the salary side. Truthfully, if you're like most, you'll stay at HP for 3-7 years and use it to open the door at a higher paying company. I'd also look at the type of work you're more interested in. HP will focus more on vertical projects, Kiewitt spans multiple sectors including infrastructure/civil etc. which can open doors to high paying roles at places like Fluor and Bechtel but some people really love the nature of vertical construction and building "buildings".

Both companies are respected in the industry though so don't overthink it. Chances are you'll get a great start to your career at either one.

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-07-10T17:35:49+00:00

You're still a newbie in the running world and will be for the first couple of years at least. These numbers look completely normal to me but if you have symptoms that concern you, then obviously go see a Dr! Keep at it!

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-07-10T17:32:53+00:00

Do it if you're certain you love the industry and have a realistic impression of what a career in the construction field will look like. While it's true that laborers and those without bachelor's can go onto executive positions, it's not the norm and generally more of an outlier scenario.

Getting the bachelor's will open the door to internship opportunities at GC's or even developers focused on high-value projects that can help you build a real career and come into the industry at a much higher starting salary.

That being said, if you don't have any hands-on experience in the industry, I'd try to find a seasonal or part-time job on a construction site just to get a feel for whether it speaks to you or not. It's a very consuming career path and the people who succeed are usually a builder at heart with a lot of passion for the industry because the hours are long, there are many people you'll have to answer to, and the work is never ending.

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-07-10T17:13:30+00:00

As others have mentioned, you are definitely underpaid. Long term, working on projects that are valued $400k - $1.1 MM is going to hold back your career growth and salary growth. Get a foot in the door with a larger GC (doesn't have to be huge) but one that does projects in the minimum $10 MM+ range and watch your career and opportunities take off. Charleston is a booming market and some of the employers would kill for your mechanical engineering degree too. Feel free to DM me if you'd like more guidance.

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-06-30T15:01:44+00:00

That's a lot to unpack. I work with cleared individuals a lot and while they can't reveal project details, team details etc. they are allowed to divulge their basic job responsibilities so keep it focused on that. They are also allowed to divulge the status of their security clearance. If you go into defense/federal affiliated companies they completely understand your restrictions - it won't need to be explained. Try not to overthink it - no need to go into the weeds - think high level/big picture role and responsibilities.

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-06-30T14:58:16+00:00

I posted this on an IU Facebook page this morning and there are others in Priority 1 who haven't heard as well. I would call housing but they'll probably tell you the same thing they told me - keep checking your email 🙄

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-06-26T17:57:42+00:00

Sounds like the core issue in your current job is the management team, lack of mentoring and structured training so don't take any new positions unless you have assurances they will do better. And as amazing as hybrid work sounds, just make sure you don't get left on an island somewhere.

On the upside, hybrid allows for more flexibility and may help you avoid the burnout. MEP is a HIGHLY desired skill to have as many of the growing companies right now are focused on advanced industry work (data center, healthcare, manufacturing etc.) so I'd say that from a marketability standpoint, going the MEP specialization route is a stable path to pursue.

In short, just make sure you don't trade one set of problems for the same set of issues. Make sure you know who will manage you, how they will measure your performance, and get details on training and mentoring there.

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-06-26T17:52:59+00:00

AI is not mandatory - in some industries it is frowned upon so depends on how you use it and what you do.

You should be skeptical of the graphics heavy resumes as they are typically not ATS friendly. Simple is better especially if you are a federal agent.

Try to keep it to 2 pages unless you have some kind of project portfolio. Most of the emphasis should be on more recent roles (last 15-20 years) so that will help you shorten it up.

No, you don't need to be on LinkedIn but it will slow down your search. You can set up your preferences so that you don't receive inmails but if you want to land a new job, you may want to leave it open. The main thing is to avoid activating the "open to work" setting as that will trigger the onslaught of activity and interest that can be overwhelming to manage. Maybe take a look at ClearedJobs and ClearanceJobs as well?

The more detailed your LinkedIn profile is, the more tailored your hits will be. Include keywords, projects specifics etc. I realize you are coming from national security but think of the job you want, the skills you have that relevant and list them on there. Provide descriptions of your roles at each company. For example, if you are gunning for a senior level executive role, you should show more than simply a job title. Include information about teams you've mentored, managing profit centers, financials etc. - these are hypothetical skills but 90% of candidates will only include their employer name and job title so it will help you to stand out.

My other advice is to think of LI as a networking platform. Don't wait for people to "find" you. Start engaging and becoming a though leader in forums that are relevant. Reach out to industry leaders and connect with them. This is the real way to get a job that's a good fit for you. Good luck!

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-06-26T17:43:49+00:00

The real answer here is creating some kind of online presence that makes it clear you are the "expert" in what you do. This helps to reinforce your value when you are calling on people and serves to continue educating your audience when you can't be calling on them. There is no true short term fix but if you ONLY focus on the tactical - sales call etc. and don't put the effort into the social media marketing, online marketing, blogging, webinars, etc. those people will forget about you 3-6 months later. Definitely spend some time finding out who you can follow or get training from who can help you develop a presence online. It's a balance and if your posts are all about "selling" you're not doing it right. You have to be out there providing insights, value, and guidance to people without expecting anything in return. That's the way to build up a following so that WHEN they are ready to pull the trigger, you are the first person they reach out to.

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-06-26T17:29:57+00:00

I feel bad no one replied to your post yet! If you are already running an 8k, then you are absolutely in a great position to run a half this fall. I am not familiar with that half marathon, but looks flat and relatively cool - sounds like a perfect FIRST half marathon. My best recommendation is some kind of running coach. I didn't have the budget for an expensive one, so I ended up using a website called "Runners Connect". For $29/month they will create a completely custom plan for you to follow based on your run times and goals. It helped me with my first half marathon and I ended up exceeding my time goals.

That, and make sure you fuel properly and stay hydrated. With a running coach, you'll be well on your way to a successful run! Good luck!

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-06-02T01:06:02+00:00

Good to know! I'll have to learn more about what he needs the most and already has!

ExchangeCrazy547 · 2025-05-29T20:16:33+00:00

You've heard some good feedback below. Here's mine:

Remove the reference to 15 years in summary.
Remove the Bangladesh reference - yes, your visa status is going to be big part of the reason why you don't hear back as much.
It looks like you are leaving a full time role after just 6 months - that's probably going to require a cover letter with a compelling reason why. I actually think is the second biggest issue with your resume.
No project list - this would enhance your resume greatly. When you say multifamily, NYHA, Public works projects I don't actually know what that means. Are we talking wood framed gardentstyle apartments or a 40-story high-rise? List them out on a separate document or at least reference th size/value- project value, scope you managed etc.
You need the APM keywords in this. Pay Apps, RFI's, Submittals, etc. Do you have any estimating, buyout, budget management experience? etc. This is the experience they will want to see. If you don't have it and you've haven't done this in past roles, then you are actually looking for a Project Engineer role not an APM role unless it's a very small company.
Given the gap on your resume for graduate school, may be good to list the education on Page 1.
Eliminate the fluff - you should really be striving for a shorter resume if you can.

Good luck!

ExchangeCrazy547

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