I hear all the time about businesses shipping 500-2000 packages a day
through fedex, and paying on average 7-10 dollars (OVERNIGHT SERVICE).
 The rate we've been able to negotiate is much higher than this.

What is the best way to get our shipping cost down to the lowest rate
possible?  Buy a company grandfathered into lower rates?  Work with a
consolidator of some sort?  Tell the fedex reigonal rep a secret
password of some kind? :)

Hi! Thanks for the interesting question.

It seems that others have the same concerns as you are but only a few
have really tried to find or share a solution. It seems however, that
what is obvious and common is that you must ship more items to get
volume discounts. But is there another way?

In this regard, I would like to reference a forum posting that you
might find helpful. In this forum posting, the poster (aethernet)
enumerated about 5 ways to get discounts. Please read the link here
since this will be of great interest to you.

http://forums.oscommerce.com/index.php?showtopic=74335&pid=785250&st=20&#entry785250


He or she posted in this other forum with some more great insights on
how he found it and also some other tips from the other posters.

http://forums.oscommerce.com/lofiversion/index.php/t74335.html 


But since this is just one source and not an official publication then
it would be good to verify the notes posted there and based on our
findings they are true and most of the information can be found on the
FEDEX website themselves making the post reliable indeed.

1. Pay with an American Express OPEN business card

FEDEX does this with the OPEN: The Small Business Network Cardmembers
of Amex. You can get the details in the link below.

http://www.FedEx.com/americanexpress/

If you are an American Express Merchant, you can have additional
discount methods here.

https://www.FedEx.com/us/customer/oadr/popups/faqs/FQ002.html#1


2. FEDEX Association Discounts by calling 1-800-345-6227.

Again the evidence of this can be found on the FEDEX website itself.
In our first example it shows how it can be partnered to members of
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The forum poster, aethernet, notes however that the association
discounts can take away some from the AMEX program. He says you may
only get 5% of AMEX and not the 15% off Express shipments.

He suggests that you ask the Association if you can get a FEDEX
discount and also look for a discount code. Then call the FEDEX
Association number 1-800-345-6227 and ask what privileges from the
association are available for you.


FEDEX- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
https://www.FedEx.com/us/customer/oadr/popups/faqs/FQ008.html#1

Here are other examples of Association Memberships and FEDEX
discounts. And you can find this on the FEDEX website as well.

FEDEX-American Medical Association
https://www.FedEx.com/us/customer/oadr/popups/faqs/FQ004.html#1

FEDEX-NALS
https://www.FedEx.com/us/customer/oadr/popups/faqs/FQ005.html#1

FEDEX-NFIB
https://www.FedEx.com/us/customer/oadr/popups/faqs/FQ006.html#1

FEDEX-USAA
https://www.FedEx.com/us/customer/oadr/popups/faqs/FQ009.html#1 

FEDEX-NBA
https://www.FedEx.com/us/customer/oadr/popups/faqs/FQ011.html#1 

FEDEX-NAPABA
https://www.FedEx.com/us/customer/oadr/popups/faqs/FQ012.html#1 


3. Negotiate with your local FEDEX reps. Please note of his advice in number 3.


4. 5% Savings on Express Shipping by Printing Labels Online.

The poster is referencing here the FedEx® Online Express Savings. The
post says 5%. What I found on the FEDEX website says you get 10%
savings.

http://www.FedExapac.com/au/oesp/


5. Using QuickBooks Pro.

Yes this is verified both by the Quickbooks and FEDEX websites.

FEDEX-Quickbooks Program
https://www.FedEx.com/us/customer/oadr/popups/faqs/FQ007.html#1 

QuickBooks Shipping Manager
http://quickbooks.intuit.com/commerce/catalog/product.jhtml?view=overview_how_FedEx&prodId=prod0000000000007994378


Search terms used:
How to get FedEx discounts
Printable online FedEx labels
Association FedEx discounts

I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
                                                          
                              
Regards,                              
Easterangel-ga                              
Google Answers Researcher

This was exactly what we were looking for. Thank You

Rumplestillskin              ?