it would be helpful to existing and new users if there were a tool that scanned current bin and asking prices of items to reference when selling an item to approximate its worth. ie items of a similar nature have sold or binned at X

Maybe. You could make a site suggestion for this topic. A stickied topic in that sub-forum will give you information on how to post one.

You can also search for other site suggestions in that sub-forum, in the event you this idea may already be posted or you think of something else you feel would be helpful to the site, or members of the site.

Meanwhile, you can use a variety of search options to try and figure out what things are going for, or ask for price checks in the trading forums you are using.

As for any Guide being available for current or approximate value of items, that has currently been discontinued in part due to the changes of prices and services from any one time to another, and it has been become rather difficult in maintaining a guide like that.

It would be helpful - sure, but how is that program supposed to work? Does it look for every "item" spelled in the exact same way?
I can definitely see this being abused if that's the case.

Would vote no if there was a poll.

there would have to be some flexibility involved, say someone made a ft post and the program autolinked like posts as reference to the mentioned item, or something close to it posted beforehand so buyers and sellers alike could see what the items may or may not have been bin'd or offered on prevously. this would severely reduce price check threads and also prevent lowballing on items of value and help maintain item value so that everyone could profit according to market value. lots of stuff gets sold at a loss or at a severe lowball purely because new players dont know what their item is worth.

thanks ill look into that,