diff --git a/src/components/ErrorState.tsx b/src/components/ErrorState.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd96d5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/ErrorState.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import { AlertTriangle, RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Card, CardContent } from '@/components/ui/card';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { Layout } from '@/components/Layout';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+
+/**
+ * Shared failure state for data-driven pages.
+ *
+ * Previously these pages rendered "404 Not Found" (or an empty state) when a
+ * relay query failed, which told users the content had been deleted — false and
+ * unactionable. This keeps the failure honest and gives a retry path.
+ */
+export function ErrorState({
+  title = 'Couldn’t load this',
+  description = 'The network request failed. Check your connection and try again.',
+  onRetry,
+  className,
+}: {
+  title?: string;
+  description?: string;
+  onRetry?: () => void;
+  className?: string;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <Card className={cn('border-2 border-dashed border-red-500/30 bg-black/50', className)}>
+      <CardContent className="py-12 text-center">
+        <AlertTriangle className="mx-auto mb-4 h-12 w-12 text-red-500/60" />
+        <p className="mb-1 font-bold uppercase tracking-wide text-white">{title}</p>
+        <p className="mx-auto mb-5 max-w-sm text-sm text-gray-400">{description}</p>
+        {onRetry && (
+          <Button onClick={onRetry} className="gap-2 bg-white/10 font-bold uppercase hover:bg-white/20">
+            <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4" />
+            Try again
+          </Button>
+        )}
+      </CardContent>
+    </Card>
+  );
+}
+
+/** Full-page failure state (with app chrome) for route-level data errors. */
+export function PageError(props: {
+  title?: string;
+  description?: string;
+  onRetry?: () => void;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <Layout>
+      <div className="container mx-auto max-w-4xl px-4 py-8">
+        <ErrorState {...props} />
+      </div>
+    </Layout>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/pages/BountyLeaderboardPage.tsx b/src/pages/BountyLeaderboardPage.tsx
index 6738eb4..c5712f9 100644
--- a/src/pages/BountyLeaderboardPage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/BountyLeaderboardPage.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { useMemo } from 'react';
 import { useSeoMeta } from '@unhead/react';
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { Layout } from '@/components/Layout';
+import { ErrorState } from '@/components/ErrorState';
 import { Card, CardContent } from '@/components/ui/card';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
@@ -138,8 +139,8 @@ export default function BountyLeaderboardPage() {
   });
 
   const { user } = useCurrentUser();
-  const { data: shops, isLoading: shopsLoading } = useSkateShops(500);
-  const { data: spots, isLoading: spotsLoading } = useSkateSpots(500);
+  const { data: shops, isLoading: shopsLoading, isError: shopsError, refetch: refetchShops } = useSkateShops(500);
+  const { data: spots, isLoading: spotsLoading, isError: spotsError, refetch: refetchSpots } = useSkateSpots(500);
 
   // Calculate shop leaderboard
   const shopLeaderboard = useMemo(() => {
@@ -202,6 +203,16 @@ export default function BountyLeaderboardPage() {
   const totalSpots = spots?.length || 0;
   const totalMappers = combinedLeaderboard.length;
 
+  if (shopsError || spotsError) {
+    return (
+      <Layout>
+        <div className="container mx-auto max-w-3xl px-4 py-8">
+          <ErrorState onRetry={() => { refetchShops(); refetchSpots(); }} />
+        </div>
+      </Layout>
+    );
+  }
+
   return (
     <Layout>
       <div className="container px-4 py-6 sm:py-8 max-w-4xl">
diff --git a/src/pages/CoachDetailPage.tsx b/src/pages/CoachDetailPage.tsx
index b6808e0..e1fd88f 100644
--- a/src/pages/CoachDetailPage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/CoachDetailPage.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { useSeoMeta } from '@unhead/react';
 import { useParams, Link, useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { Layout } from '@/components/Layout';
+import { PageError } from '@/components/ErrorState';
 import { Card, CardContent, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card';
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ function CoachDetailSkeleton() {
 
 export default function CoachDetailPage() {
   const { pubkey, identifier } = useParams<{ pubkey: string; identifier: string }>();
-  const { data: profile, isLoading, error } = useLabProfile(identifier || '', pubkey);
+  const { data: profile, isLoading, error, refetch } = useLabProfile(identifier || '', pubkey);
   const author = useAuthor(profile?.pubkey);
   const { user } = useCurrentUser();
   const navigate = useNavigate();
@@ -116,7 +117,11 @@ export default function CoachDetailPage() {
     return <CoachDetailSkeleton />;
   }
 
-  if (error || !profile) {
+  if (error) {
+    return <PageError onRetry={() => refetch()} />;
+  }
+
+  if (!profile) {
     return <NotFound />;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/pages/CollectionDetailPage.tsx b/src/pages/CollectionDetailPage.tsx
index 2f48a5b..5ebc511 100644
--- a/src/pages/CollectionDetailPage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/CollectionDetailPage.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useSeoMeta } from '@unhead/react';
 import { useNostr } from '@nostrify/react';
 import { useQuery, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { Layout } from '@/components/Layout';
+import { PageError } from '@/components/ErrorState';
 import { SpotCard, SpotCardSkeleton } from '@/components/SpotCard';
 import { SpotMap } from '@/components/SpotMap';
 import { Card, CardContent, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card';
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ function CollectionDetailSkeleton() {
 
 export default function CollectionDetailPage() {
   const { pubkey, identifier } = useParams<{ pubkey: string; identifier: string }>();
-  const { data: collection, isLoading, error } = useSpotCollection(identifier || '', pubkey);
+  const { data: collection, isLoading, error, refetch } = useSpotCollection(identifier || '', pubkey);
   const { user } = useCurrentUser();
   const { nostr } = useNostr();
   const { config } = useAppContext();
@@ -221,7 +222,11 @@ export default function CollectionDetailPage() {
     return <CollectionDetailSkeleton />;
   }
 
-  if (error || !collection) {
+  if (error) {
+    return <PageError onRetry={() => refetch()} />;
+  }
+
+  if (!collection) {
     return <NotFound />;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/pages/CrewDetailPage.tsx b/src/pages/CrewDetailPage.tsx
index 1417a59..0f96699 100644
--- a/src/pages/CrewDetailPage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/CrewDetailPage.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { useSeoMeta } from '@unhead/react';
 import { useParams, Link } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { nip19 } from 'nostr-tools';
 import { Layout } from '@/components/Layout';
+import { PageError } from '@/components/ErrorState';
 import { Card, CardContent, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ function FeedItem({
 
 export default function CrewDetailPage() {
   const { pubkey, identifier } = useParams<{ pubkey: string; identifier: string }>();
-  const { data: crew, isLoading, error } = useCrew(identifier || '', pubkey);
+  const { data: crew, isLoading, error, refetch } = useCrew(identifier || '', pubkey);
   const author = useAuthor(crew?.pubkey);
   const { user } = useCurrentUser();
   const { isFounder, isAdmin, role, canManage } = useCrewRole(crew);
@@ -242,7 +243,9 @@ export default function CrewDetailPage() {
     );
   }
 
-  if (error || !crew) return <NotFound />;
+  if (error) return <PageError onRetry={() => refetch()} />;
+
+  if (!crew) return <NotFound />;
 
   const npub = nip19.npubEncode(crew.pubkey);
   const founderName = author.data?.metadata?.name ?? genUserName(crew.pubkey);
diff --git a/src/pages/DirectMessagesPage.tsx b/src/pages/DirectMessagesPage.tsx
index 4075160..715155f 100644
--- a/src/pages/DirectMessagesPage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/DirectMessagesPage.tsx
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ function ConversationSkeleton() {
 export default function DirectMessagesPage() {
   const { user } = useCurrentUser();
   const { logins } = useNostrLogin();
-  const { data: conversations, isLoading, error } = useConversations();
+  const { data: conversations, isLoading, error, refetch } = useConversations();
   const { getLastRead } = useDMRead();
   const [showNewMessage, setShowNewMessage] = useState(false);
 
@@ -284,6 +284,9 @@ export default function DirectMessagesPage() {
               <CardContent className="py-8 text-center">
                 <AlertCircle className="h-12 w-12 mx-auto mb-3 text-red-500" />
                 <p className="text-gray-400">Failed to load messages</p>
+                <Button variant="outline" className="mt-4" onClick={() => refetch()}>
+                  Try again
+                </Button>
               </CardContent>
             </Card>
           ) : conversations && conversations.length > 0 ? (
diff --git a/src/pages/EventDetailPage.tsx b/src/pages/EventDetailPage.tsx
index e06490a..401e753 100644
--- a/src/pages/EventDetailPage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/EventDetailPage.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { useSeoMeta } from '@unhead/react';
 import { useParams, Link } from 'react-router-dom';
 import ngeohash from 'ngeohash';
 import { Layout } from '@/components/Layout';
+import { PageError } from '@/components/ErrorState';
 import { SpotMap } from '@/components/SpotMap';
 import { RouteDialog } from '@/components/RouteDialog';
 import { Card, CardContent, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card';
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ function EventDetailSkeleton() {
 
 export default function EventDetailPage() {
   const { pubkey, identifier } = useParams<{ pubkey: string; identifier: string }>();
-  const { data: event, isLoading, error } = useSkateEvent(identifier || '', pubkey);
+  const { data: event, isLoading, error, refetch } = useSkateEvent(identifier || '', pubkey);
   const author = useAuthor(event?.pubkey);
   const { user } = useCurrentUser();
   const { toast } = useToast();
@@ -269,7 +270,11 @@ export default function EventDetailPage() {
     return <EventDetailSkeleton />;
   }
 
-  if (error || !event) {
+  if (error) {
+    return <PageError onRetry={() => refetch()} />;
+  }
+
+  if (!event) {
     return <NotFound />;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/pages/ShopDetailPage.tsx b/src/pages/ShopDetailPage.tsx
index 3ddae23..1e7a24e 100644
--- a/src/pages/ShopDetailPage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/ShopDetailPage.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useParams, Link, useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import ngeohash from 'ngeohash';
 import { Layout } from '@/components/Layout';
+import { PageError } from '@/components/ErrorState';
 import { ImageWithFallback } from '@/components/ImageWithFallback';
 import { SpotMap } from '@/components/SpotMap';
 import { RouteDialog } from '@/components/RouteDialog';
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ function ShopDetailSkeleton() {
 
 export default function ShopDetailPage() {
   const { pubkey, identifier } = useParams<{ pubkey: string; identifier: string }>();
-  const { data: shop, isLoading, error } = useShop(identifier || '', pubkey);
+  const { data: shop, isLoading, error, refetch } = useShop(identifier || '', pubkey);
   const author = useAuthor(shop?.pubkey);
   const { user, metadata: userMetadata } = useCurrentUser();
   const { mutateAsync: deleteEntity } = useDeleteEntity();
@@ -185,7 +186,11 @@ export default function ShopDetailPage() {
     return <ShopDetailSkeleton />;
   }
 
-  if (error || !shop) {
+  if (error) {
+    return <PageError onRetry={() => refetch()} />;
+  }
+
+  if (!shop) {
     return <NotFound />;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/pages/SpotDetailPage.tsx b/src/pages/SpotDetailPage.tsx
index ab96d29..a82ee3c 100644
--- a/src/pages/SpotDetailPage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/SpotDetailPage.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import ngeohash from 'ngeohash';
 import { Layout } from '@/components/Layout';
 import { ImageWithFallback } from '@/components/ImageWithFallback';
 import { ImageLightbox, type LightboxImage } from '@/components/ImageLightbox';
+import { PageError } from '@/components/ErrorState';
 import { SpotMap } from '@/components/SpotMap';
 import { Card, CardContent, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card';
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ function SpotDetailSkeleton() {
 
 export default function SpotDetailPage() {
   const { pubkey, identifier } = useParams<{ pubkey: string; identifier: string }>();
-  const { data: spot, isLoading, error } = useSkateSpot(identifier || '', pubkey);
+  const { data: spot, isLoading, error, refetch } = useSkateSpot(identifier || '', pubkey);
   const { data: marketplaceItems, isLoading: isLoadingMarketplace } = useMarketplaceAtSpot(pubkey || '', identifier || '');
   const { data: spotServices, isLoading: isLoadingServices } = useSpotServices(pubkey, identifier);
   const author = useAuthor(spot?.pubkey);
@@ -237,7 +238,11 @@ export default function SpotDetailPage() {
     return <SpotDetailSkeleton />;
   }
 
-  if (error || !spot) {
+  if (error) {
+    return <PageError onRetry={() => refetch()} />;
+  }
+
+  if (!spot) {
     return <NotFound />;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/pages/ZapLeaderboardPage.tsx b/src/pages/ZapLeaderboardPage.tsx
index 566d901..a9593e4 100644
--- a/src/pages/ZapLeaderboardPage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/ZapLeaderboardPage.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { Layout } from '@/components/Layout';
 import { Card, CardContent } from '@/components/ui/card';
 import { Avatar, AvatarFallback, AvatarImage } from '@/components/ui/avatar';
 import { Skeleton } from '@/components/ui/skeleton';
+import { ErrorState } from '@/components/ErrorState';
 import { Tabs, TabsList, TabsTrigger } from '@/components/ui/tabs';
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
 import { useZapLeaderboard } from '@/hooks/useZapLeaderboard';
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ export default function ZapLeaderboardPage() {
     return seconds ? Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) - seconds : undefined;
   }, [range]);
 
-  const { data, isLoading } = useZapLeaderboard(since);
+  const { data, isLoading, isError, refetch } = useZapLeaderboard(since);
   const { data: spots } = useSkateSpots(200);
 
   const spotByCoord = useMemo(() => {
@@ -208,7 +209,9 @@ export default function ZapLeaderboardPage() {
               <MapPin className="h-4 w-4" />
               Top zapped spots
             </h2>
-            {isLoading ? (
+            {isError ? (
+              <ErrorState onRetry={() => refetch()} />
+            ) : isLoading ? (
               <RowsSkeleton />
             ) : topTargets.length === 0 ? (
               <p className="py-8 text-center text-sm text-gray-500">
@@ -231,7 +234,9 @@ export default function ZapLeaderboardPage() {
               <Users className="h-4 w-4" />
               Top supporters
             </h2>
-            {isLoading ? (
+            {isError ? (
+              <ErrorState onRetry={() => refetch()} />
+            ) : isLoading ? (
               <RowsSkeleton />
             ) : topSenders.length === 0 ? (
               <p className="py-8 text-center text-sm text-gray-500">