The automatic emails have nothing to do with it....the criteria is DIRECT communication between the buyer and the seller.

There are also something about shipping time and something else involved too, but as I am not a seller I really cannot give you any more information.

I very rarely have any communication with sellers as I do not bother with listings that do not give all the information I require.

If the criteria was only No Direct Communication then 90% of my sellers would be automatic 5 stars.  As it is, there are very few auto 5 stars for communication when I leave feedback.