Try porting to another zone, like the underworld realm or whatever.Not sure but i think it works for changing stock.
Nope, it doesn't work. Vendors will restock when a main character who has reached a higher level barters with the NPC. It can be either character, but if you have one who is 16 and one who is 17 the one who is 16 won't restock any NPCs that were restocked for level 16 already while the 17 can. When the 16 hits 17 he will not suddenly restock the NPCs the earlier 17 restocked as they will already have been stocked for 17.
Well actually I'm not sure what happens if you get them to stock for 15 then 17 then 16 but I assume that would just entirely skip the 16...