Wait, you walked into shops and got offers in six weeks? That blows my mind because I always thought small places would just tell you to apply online like everyone else. How did you even start the conversation when you walked in, did you just ask for the manager or what? I feel like most people would get brushed off, so there has to be some trick to it. Also, how many shops did you have to hit before someone actually said yes?

Oh man, this is the same thing as when you ask a contractor to put the quote in writing and suddenly they act like you insulted their mother. I've seen it with landlords too, and with a guy who sold me a car once. The second you want a paper trail, the honest people shrug and send you a text, and the sketchy ones get all offended. @singh.wren nailed it, the people with nothing to hide never care about being on the record.