diff --git a/packages/scraper/src/robots/catalog-reconcile.ts b/packages/scraper/src/robots/catalog-reconcile.ts
index 5627b81..bf8a23c 100644
--- a/packages/scraper/src/robots/catalog-reconcile.ts
+++ b/packages/scraper/src/robots/catalog-reconcile.ts
@@ -249,18 +249,25 @@ export async function runCatalogReconcile(): Promise<ReconcileResult> {
         `last_price: ${cand.last_price?.toISOString() ?? "never"} | ` +
         `source: catalog-reconcile`;
 
-      // Upsert — bereits approved/rejected Einträge nicht überschreiben
+      // Upsert — bereits approved/rejected Einträge nicht überschreiben. Pending
+      // rows get re_research_due_at = NOW() so the daily
+      // maintenance:re-research-equivalences job (scheduler.ts) actually drains
+      // them — that job only evaluates rows where re_research_due_at IS NOT NULL,
+      // and without this the backlog only grows (found live 2026-07-13: 289,681
+      // pending rows had accumulated with re_research_due_at always NULL).
+      const reResearchDueAt = status === "pending" ? new Date() : null;
       const { rowCount } = await pool.query(`
         INSERT INTO transceiver_equivalences
-          (flexoptix_id, competitor_id, confidence, match_basis, match_notes, status)
-        VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6)
+          (flexoptix_id, competitor_id, confidence, match_basis, match_notes, status, re_research_due_at)
+        VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7)
         ON CONFLICT (flexoptix_id, competitor_id) DO UPDATE SET
           confidence   = EXCLUDED.confidence,
           match_basis  = EXCLUDED.match_basis,
           match_notes  = EXCLUDED.match_notes,
+          re_research_due_at = COALESCE(transceiver_equivalences.re_research_due_at, EXCLUDED.re_research_due_at),
           updated_at   = NOW()
         WHERE transceiver_equivalences.status NOT IN ('approved', 'rejected', 'auto_approved')
-      `, [fx.id, cand.competitor_id, confidence, basis, notes, status]);
+      `, [fx.id, cand.competitor_id, confidence, basis, notes, status, reResearchDueAt]);
 
       const wasInsertOrUpdate = (rowCount ?? 0) > 0;
       if (!wasInsertOrUpdate) {
diff --git a/packages/scraper/src/scheduler.ts b/packages/scraper/src/scheduler.ts
index f8171f5..9266d98 100644
--- a/packages/scraper/src/scheduler.ts
+++ b/packages/scraper/src/scheduler.ts
@@ -3182,6 +3182,13 @@ export async function registerWorkers(boss: PgBoss): Promise<void> {
       );
 
       if (research.decision === "reject") {
+        const rejectReason = research.rejectReason || "automated research: rejected";
+        // Data-gap rejects (missing wavelength/fiber/reach evidence, not a
+        // confirmed mismatch) get a future re-check — once a scraper fills the
+        // gap, re-research picks it back up. Confirmed mismatches / no-price /
+        // low-confidence rejects get re_research_due_at=NULL (permanent; nothing
+        // will change on a re-check with the same stored specs).
+        const isDataGap = rejectReason.includes("insufficient technical evidence");
         await pool.query(`
           UPDATE transceiver_equivalences
           SET status = 'rejected',
@@ -3190,7 +3197,7 @@ export async function registerWorkers(boss: PgBoss): Promise<void> {
               reject_reason = $4,
               reviewed_by = 'automated-research',
               reviewed_at = NOW(),
-              re_research_due_at = NULL,
+              re_research_due_at = CASE WHEN $6 THEN NOW() + INTERVAL '21 days' ELSE NULL END,
               re_researched_at = NOW(),
               match_notes = CONCAT(
                 COALESCE(match_notes, ''),
@@ -3202,8 +3209,9 @@ export async function registerWorkers(boss: PgBoss): Promise<void> {
           eq.id,
           research.confidence,
           research.basis,
-          research.rejectReason || "automated research: rejected",
+          rejectReason,
           research.reasons.join("; "),
+          isDataGap,
         ]);
 
         await pool.query(`