Every TJ Maxx and Marshalls (moreso TJ Maxx) that I go to has designer finds--not CK and Phat Farm. I don't care if they are last season. You usually have to sort through the racks but a lot of people aren't patient enough to do so, so I end up with some great finds that others overlook.
Plus, a lot of people don't know who these designers are so instead of being "label whores" people just judge the clothes for what they are--high quality and nice OR low quality and ugly OR high quality and ugly.
I think it may depend on where you live and how big the demand is for certain styles and items.