diff --git a/src/app/(protected)/vendors/_components/use-vendor-roster-selection.ts b/src/app/(protected)/vendors/_components/use-vendor-roster-selection.ts
index 4bd467f1..24d51ce8 100644
--- a/src/app/(protected)/vendors/_components/use-vendor-roster-selection.ts
+++ b/src/app/(protected)/vendors/_components/use-vendor-roster-selection.ts
@@ -87,6 +87,13 @@ export function useVendorRosterSelection({
       queryClient.fetchQuery({
         queryKey: queryKeys.vendors.roster("companyId", id),
         queryFn: () => vendorCompanyRosterApi.get({ companyId: id }),
+        // SH-250: this fetch exists to obtain the freshest rowVersion, so it must not
+        // serve the global 5-minute staleTime cache. A conflict never invalidates this
+        // key (useSaveVendorCompanyRoster invalidates only on success, and its onError
+        // returns early for conflicts), and the Add flow has no mounted observer on it.
+        // Without staleTime: 0 the Reload button re-seeds the same stale rowVersion and
+        // the retry 409s again indefinitely.
+        staleTime: 0,
       }),
     [queryClient],
   );
diff --git a/src/test/app/(protected)/vendors/use-vendor-roster-form.test.tsx b/src/test/app/(protected)/vendors/use-vendor-roster-form.test.tsx
index 777363fd..b56aa714 100644
--- a/src/test/app/(protected)/vendors/use-vendor-roster-form.test.tsx
+++ b/src/test/app/(protected)/vendors/use-vendor-roster-form.test.tsx
@@ -156,6 +156,17 @@ function createClient(): QueryClient {
   return new QueryClient({ defaultOptions: { queries: { retry: false } } });
 }
 
+/**
+ * SH-250: mirrors the app's real staleTime (src/lib/query/query-client.ts). The default
+ * test client uses staleTime 0, which silently masks cache-staleness defects on the
+ * reload path — the conflict recovery must not depend on an empty cache.
+ */
+function createCachingClient(): QueryClient {
+  return new QueryClient({
+    defaultOptions: { queries: { retry: false, staleTime: 5 * 60 * 1000 } },
+  });
+}
+
 function makeWrapper(client: QueryClient) {
   return function Wrapper({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
     return <QueryClientProvider client={client}>{children}</QueryClientProvider>;
@@ -534,6 +545,41 @@ describe("useVendorRosterForm additive add flow (SH-250)", () => {
     await waitFor(() => expect(result.current.name.field.value).toBe("Gateway Plumbing & Drain"));
   });
 
+  it("reload bypasses the cache so the retry carries the fresh rowVersion", async () => {
+    rosterGet.mockResolvedValueOnce(roster);
+    const { result } = renderHook(
+      () => useVendorRosterForm({ mode: "create", startWithTechnician: true }),
+      { wrapper: makeWrapper(createCachingClient()) },
+    );
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.selectCompany(company);
+    });
+    expect(rosterGet).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+    act(() => {
+      result.current.submit(submitValues([newTechnician]));
+    });
+    expect(saveMutate.mock.calls[0]?.[0]).toEqual(expect.objectContaining({ rowVersion: "rv-1" }));
+
+    // The 409 never invalidates this key, and in the Add flow nothing else observes it.
+    // Without staleTime: 0 on the reload fetch, the cached rv-1 is served straight back
+    // and every retry 409s again.
+    rosterGet.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ...roster, rowVersion: "rv-2" });
+    await act(async () => {
+      result.current.reload();
+    });
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(rosterGet).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2));
+
+    act(() => {
+      result.current.submit(submitValues([newTechnician]));
+    });
+    expect(saveMutate.mock.calls[1]?.[0]).toEqual(
+      expect.objectContaining({ mode: "add", rowVersion: "rv-2" }),
+    );
+  });
+
   it("does not regress the Edit Vendor reconcile path (mode update)", () => {
     rosterQueryResult = {
       data: rosterWithTechnicians,