Bargain Hunt returned on Friday (November 22) as the two teams went head-to-head in Detling, Kent, to see who could bag the best bargains and profit most at auction.
Viewers expressed their frustration after witnessing scenes some had not seen on the BBC programme before the red team suffered a disastrous penalty.
Bill and Al, two friends, were in the red team with expert Catherine Southton, while work colleagues Jo and Simsola worked alongside Mark Stacey.
However, after purchasing just two items, the red team's efforts to find another bargain didn't go exactly as planned. With just two minutes left on the clock and countless haggling, Catherine urged the duo to make a final decision on either purchasing a sovereign necklace case or a glass, which could fetch £40.
After deciding to go for the silver case, all three began to run through the marketplace to locate the item and buy it.
With only a minute left on the clock, they finally found the item, the red team spotted the sovereign stall but could not secure the deal in time.
Bill told the stallholder, "I know you said £80, but what about £75?"
Unfortunately, they ran out of time to make the purchase, as show host Eric Knowles confirmed they could not "bend the rules," and shopping time on Bargain Hunt is strictly one hour.
One viewer fumed: "#BargainHunt - how can you run out of time, seriously?"
Another remarked: "20 seconds and he tries to barter #BargainHunt."
A third commented, "That was a shame #bargainhunt." A fourth said, " I didn't see that coming."
Things quickly went from bad to worse as the pair were penalised following the show rule break. Eric confirmed the pair will start the auction at minus £75.
Following this one viewer shared, "Minus £75 seems a good punishment, bet he wished he hadn’t tried to haggle now!#bargainhunt." Another wrote: "-75 to start [laughing emoji] #bargainhunt."
Another quizzed: "Do they get any punishment for only having 2 items after running out of time?"
To which a viewer replied: "Oh good they do get punished!! smiles #bargainhunt."
