diff --git a/packages/scraper/src/robots/spec-matcher.ts b/packages/scraper/src/robots/spec-matcher.ts
index 4f75ee0..ec3aa40 100644
--- a/packages/scraper/src/robots/spec-matcher.ts
+++ b/packages/scraper/src/robots/spec-matcher.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,18 @@
  *   - Max 30 competitor matches per FX product (safety cap)
  *
  * Match quality:
- *   confidence  = 0.85
+ *   confidence  = 0.85 (starting prior only)
  *   match_basis = '{spec}'
- *   status      = 'auto_approved'
+ *   status      = 'pending' — unlike OPN matches (manufacturer-confirmed ground
+ *     truth), spec matches are a coarse JOIN with no standard_name / fiber_type /
+ *     recent-price discrimination, so they route into the same
+ *     maintenance:re-research-equivalences pipeline as catalog-reconcile.ts's
+ *     pending rows (evaluateEquivalenceResearch(), scheduler.ts) for real
+ *     confidence scoring before ever being served as an approved equivalence.
+ *     Found live 2026-07-17: of the equivalences this matcher had previously put
+ *     straight into 'auto_approved', ~19% failed a recent-competitor-price check
+ *     and ~8% had a conflicting standard_name — i.e. real false-positive risk
+ *     was going live unreviewed.
  */
 
 import { pool } from "../utils/db";
@@ -39,13 +48,14 @@ const INSERT_SPEC_MATCHES = `
     match_basis,
     match_notes,
     created_at,
-    updated_at
+    updated_at,
+    re_research_due_at
   )
   SELECT DISTINCT
     fx.id               AS flexoptix_id,
     comp.id             AS competitor_id,
     0.85                AS confidence,
-    'auto_approved'     AS status,
+    'pending'           AS status,
     ARRAY['spec']       AS match_basis,
     'Spec match: ' || fx.form_factor || ' ' || fx.speed_gbps || 'G ' ||
       CASE WHEN fx.reach_meters <= 300   THEN 'SR'
@@ -57,7 +67,8 @@ const INSERT_SPEC_MATCHES = `
            THEN ' @' || tip_extract_wavelength_nm(fx.wavelengths) || 'nm'
            ELSE '' END AS match_notes,
     NOW()               AS created_at,
-    NOW()               AS updated_at
+    NOW()               AS updated_at,
+    NOW()               AS re_research_due_at
   FROM transceivers fx
   JOIN vendors vfx ON vfx.id = fx.vendor_id AND UPPER(vfx.name) LIKE '%FLEXOPTIX%'
   JOIN transceivers comp