She might be stupid. And the smart people would have definitely ran. But I don't recall learning anywhere where the appropriate lines are when it comes to negotiating salary, benefits, perks, etc. if it's not either a corporate job or some minimum wage type gig. I'm sure you and all the more experienced folks around here are used to negotiating and are more familiar with their objective skills and value. I'm more on the author's side because I've had a similar experience recently negotiating my own salary, with an SV-type no less. It sucks. He's had countless amounts of practice, and I've done it only several times. I'm still salty at the terms since I feel taken advantage of. But a bird in the hand and all that. Also, there are 20 Chinese engineers on H1B1 visas obtained through the company who hadn't gotten paid in several months. Are they stupid?